Andrey Santos is officially part of the 25-man Manchester United traveling party for Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Wrexham at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder arrived from Chelsea in a transaction valued at £50 million ($67.2m), representing the inaugural permanent acquisition of the Michael Carrick era. Following seven days of intensive training sessions at the Carrington complex, the former Vasco da Gama standout is positioned to earn his first minutes in a red shirt during the fixture in Finland.
Michael Carrick’s selection for the trip features a blend of established senior figures including Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, and Joshua Zirkzee. Defensive reinforcements Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw have also boarded the flight, joined by Patrick Dorgu and Bryan Mbeumo. While the Andrey Santos Manchester United transition is the primary focus, the squad depth is further illustrated by the inclusion of Ayden Heaven. However, Belgian international Youri Tielemans is a confirmed absentee as he continues a period of mandatory rest following his summer involvement in the World Cup.
Midfield options for the clash against the League One side are supplemented by a wave of academy graduates. Jacob Devaney, Dan Gore, and Jim Thwaites have all secured spots on the plane to Helsinki. Adding a unique family dynamic to the roster, brothers Tyler and Jack Fletcher are both eligible for selection in the central third. These youth prospects will look to capitalize on the vacancy left by Manuel Ugarte, who remains unavailable for selection while undergoing rehabilitation following major knee surgery.
In the attacking department, Benjamin Sesko has been omitted from the traveling list as he manages a lingering shin injury. The Slovenian forward missed the final three competitive matches of the previous season and has not yet reached the fitness threshold required for match action. This medical setback creates a vacuum in the frontline for Chidi Obi and Ethan Wheatley to showcase their capabilities. Notably, JJ Gabriel did not make the final cut for this specific exhibition match, leaving the striking responsibilities to the younger contingent and Zirkzee.
Defensive rotations will see Jaydan Kamason compete for the starting right-back berth in the absence of senior alternatives. The goalkeeping department consists of veteran Tom Heaton, Radek Vitek, and Dermot Mee. Despite completing a free transfer from Leeds United earlier this week, Karl Darlow was not registered in time to participate in the Finnish leg of the tour. The goalkeeping hierarchy remains under scrutiny as Carrick evaluates his options before the Premier League campaign commences.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has his own selection dilemmas, confirming that Josh Windass and Max Cleworth are ruled out of the Helsinki fixture. Windass is currently sidelined with a persistent calf strain, while Cleworth is being monitored for an Achilles tendon issue. Parkinson indicated that while the majority of his roster has achieved the necessary physical benchmarks, these specific "niggly things" from the prior campaign have forced a cautious approach. The Welsh club is using this high-profile friendly as a final European tune-up before embarking on a United States tour featuring matches against Leeds, Liverpool, and Sunderland.
The tactical setup in Helsinki will likely prioritize integrating Santos into a midfield pivot, allowing Carrick to assess the £50 million man’s range of passing and defensive positioning. With the 2024/25 season approaching, the performance of the fringe players against Wrexham’s physical style will dictate final loan decisions for the likes of Gore and Thwaites. Kick-off in Finland is scheduled for the afternoon, providing a stern test for a United side missing several key components but bolstered by their expensive new Brazilian recruit.