Who is Andrey Santos? What Chelsea can expect from Brazilian midfielder

Chelsea are closing in a offer to signal Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Vasco da Gama as the most up-to-date aspect of their ongoing quest to sign the game’s very best young talents.

The likes of Manchester Metropolis, Barcelona and Newcastle United have all chased the 18-year-previous but it appears as while Chelsea and manager Graham Potter have completed more than enough to get a offer done, agreeing to a transfer which could expense them up to £20m.

But who is Andrey Santos and what tends to make him such a particular talent?

Introduced to futsal at the age of 4 in an try to reduce weight, Santos swiftly fell in appreciate with the activity and initially began as a defender, exactly where it was before long made a decision his abilities were wasted.

In the Vasco academy, Santos was moved to midfield. He has admitted he loved the go because it authorized him to get far more involved in scoring ambitions, when his mother celebrated what she considered was a jump-up in price.

A 17-yr-old Santos was specified his senior debut in March 2021 and he’d go on to make his to start with start out correct at the end of that period, but the event was drowned out by boos from supporters at the end of a campaign which noticed Vasco fall short to return to Brazil’s leading flight.

In an try to kick-get started a new period, supervisor Ze Ricardo took a shining to Santos and produced him a everlasting starter, and the midfielder hasn’t appeared back again considering that. 2022 was a stellar calendar year for the midfielder, who grew to become the youngest goalscorer in club heritage when he netted versus Nautico in June.

At international level, Santos commenced with Brazil’s Below-16s in 2019 and has since showcased for both of those the Less than-18s and Under-20s.

Santos’ principal place is as a normal central midfielder – the selection eight position, in the modern activity.

With a 5’11 body, Santos takes the function of a box-to-box powerhouse. His lanky stature and amazing endurance see him cost about the subject in an try to affect factors at both of those finishes of the field.

Provided a good deal of flexibility to roam all over, Santos enjoys carrying the ball forward and keeping things ticking with simple, however essential passes to evade force and let his far more-innovative teammates to shine.

Importantly, Santos has not overlooked his defensive roots. From time to time used as a mortgage defensive midfielder, he is joyful to do the unpleasant do the job and has solid an impressive name as an economical tackler, each in the air and on the floor.

Even with not becoming the biggest of midfielders, Santos would make his frame go a very long way. His prolonged legs allow for him to include floor extremely rapidly, assisting him get again defensively but also to advance the ball in possession. In swift transitions, he’s in his ingredient.

Vasco have usually applied Santos as their major outlet when on the counter, trusting the teen to charge the length of the discipline to set them on best. He’s not an elite dribbler but, yet again, takes advantage of his body to his benefit to get the higher hand.

On the ball, Santos likes a simple, tempo-ticking pass. He’s introduced comparisons to Sergio Busquets for his calculated method to games and his desire to engage in the conductor, instead than the creator.

“I’m really targeted, significant and with a sturdy winner’s mentality,” Santos advised Globo Esporte of his strengths. “I will not permit my teammates settle down. I am generally seeking to evolve.

“My best qualities are my ball output in the create-up and my marking. I have good quality with my passes and my eyesight of the game.”

As described, Santos’ use of the ball is amazing but not devastating. When charging forwards toward the box, he won’t boast the defence-unlocking move that would see his help figures fly up.

Santos can not be accused of playing harmless, on the other hand, and generally is aware of where his teammates are on the pitch. If they are in room, the teenager is joyful to give in excess of possession and the headlines that come with plans and helps.

On a sporting amount, Santos comes from a technology that grew up observing Cristiano Ronaldo dominate football and he admits to basing his work level on the Portugal worldwide.

As much as his playstyle goes, Santos has formerly named three midfielders who he attempts to emulate on the pitch.

“I genuinely like Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes and Thiago Alcantara,” he explained to LANCE. “These men are phenomenal. I glance up to them a whole lot.”

Nene, fellow Vasco midfielder and previous PSG star: “It isn’t going to even appear like he’s this younger. He has an incredible maturity in instruction, it looks like he has been with us for numerous many years.

“He has a vision of the video game, a lot of good quality and likes to break traces. He is previously in the Brazil Below-20s crew and who is familiar with, possibly quickly he will be shining in the senior countrywide crew? He will be a wonderful player.”

Juninho, former Vasco midfielder and Lyon director: “Physically, he is a monster. Without having the ball, his participation in the sport is total. I wanted to see his GPS, for the reason that he would not prevent! And technically, he’s way previously mentioned the others.

“He is not likely to be superior than me, he’s likely to be substantially greater than me. He is a substantially additional complete player. At 18, I failed to play 50 percent as significantly as he does, I’m not ashamed to say that.”