Santos debuts as Man Utd lose to Wrexham in first pre-season friendly

Andrey Santos made his first appearance for Manchester United as the Red Devils were beaten 1-0 by Wrexham in their opening pre-season fixture at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki on Tuesday.

The Brazilian midfielder, who joined the club in January, featured for the first time under interim manager Michel Carrick in a largely experimental United line-up.

Carrick's tactical tweaks evident in Finland

Carrick opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with Santos operating in a deep-lying midfield role. The 19-year-old showed glimpses of composure on the ball, completing 91% of his 45 passes before being substituted at half-time.

United dominated possession with 68% but struggled to create clear-cut chances. The winning goal came from a Wrexham counter-attack in the 34th minute, when Paul Mullins finished past Tom Heaton.

Carrick named a youthful side, with nine changes at the break. Among the second-half substitutes were Facundo Pellistri and Zidane Iqbal, who impressed in pre-season last year.

Santos integration: What this means for the season ahead

Santos' debut provides early insight into how Carrick plans to utilise the Brazilian. He was tasked with shielding the back four and initiating attacks from deep — a role previously held by Casemiro, who is still on post-season break.

With United yet to confirm a permanent manager for next season, Carrick's pre-season approach could influence the club's transfer strategy. Santos' performance suggests he may be considered a squad option rather than an immediate starter.

  • Santos completed 41 of 45 passes (91% accuracy) in his 45-minute debut.
  • United failed to register a shot on target in the first half.
  • Wrexham's victory is their first against a Premier League side since 1992.

Pre-season schedule and what comes next

United continue their pre-season tour with a match against Lyon on Friday in Helsinki. Carrick is expected to rotate heavily again, with more first-team regulars likely to feature.

The result serves as a reminder of the work needed before the new Premier League campaign begins in August. While pre-season results carry minimal weight, the lack of attacking threat will concern Carrick.

Santos will hope for more minutes against Lyon as he adapts to English football. His development could prove crucial given United's midfield options and the uncertainty surrounding the manager's position.

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