Manchester United are facing questions over the £50 million they spent to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea, with reports suggesting the Brazilian midfielder may have been worth considerably less when the transfer was completed in June.

According to a report by The Athletic on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, individuals close to Chelsea believe Santos was valued at approximately half the amount United paid to secure his services. The assessment has raised questions about whether the Old Trafford club committed too much money to the 22-year-old.

Santos arrived at Manchester United with expectations of becoming an important part of Michael Carrick’s midfield. However, he has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter and has made six Premier League appearances during the current campaign. After losing his place earlier in the season, he recently returned to the starting lineup.

The midfielder faced his former employers during United’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last weekend. However, his partnership with Carlos Baleba failed to provide the control and influence produced by Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. The difference became particularly noticeable after the interval, when the home side gained greater authority in midfield.

The report also indicated that Chelsea would have been unlikely to accept a valuation of £25 million for Santos, especially when dealing with a wealthy Premier League rival. Former Scotland international Ally McCoist has similarly questioned United’s spending, suggesting Chelsea may have benefited considerably from the transaction.

Nevertheless, Santos’ underlying statistics offer a more balanced assessment of his performances since changing clubs. Figures published by FotMob indicate that his passing output has remained relatively consistent despite the difficulties surrounding his adaptation to United.

He averages 56.08 passes per 90 minutes at Old Trafford, completing 89.1 per cent of them. During his previous season at Chelsea, he recorded 51.49 passes per 90 minutes with a completion rate of 90.1 per cent. Although his accuracy has declined slightly, his overall involvement in possession has increased.

His defensive contribution has also grown. Santos is averaging 12.31 defensive actions per 90 minutes this season, compared with 9.25 during the previous campaign. These figures suggest that his individual output has not deteriorated significantly since leaving Stamford Bridge.

Consequently, his struggles could be connected more closely to United’s tactical organisation and wider team difficulties than to a substantial decline in his personal ability. Finding the right midfield partnership and a system that suits his strengths may be important to improving his performances.

Chelsea could also have benefited from retaining him. The club have experienced midfield injury problems and did not bring in a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, potentially creating opportunities for Santos under Xabi Alonso had he remained.

However, Lavia’s recent performances alongside Caicedo have reduced concerns among Chelsea supporters about losing the Brazilian. His departure has therefore attracted renewed attention as United attempt to justify their considerable investment.

Ultimately, Santos’ situation illustrates how a player’s effectiveness can depend heavily on the tactical environment around him. Whether United’s £50 million decision proves worthwhile will depend on his ability to establish consistency and become a more influential figure in Carrick’s plans.