Andrey Santos insists Manchester United are a ‘step up’ from Chelsea after swapping Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford in a deal worth £48m.
The Brazil international emerged as a top target for Michael Carrick earlier in the summer as he looked to bolster his midfield options.
Carrick bid farewell to Casemiro at the end of last season and has lost Manuel Ugarte to a serious injury, although he had already put the Uruguayan up for sale.
Santos made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season, finally breaking into the team and featuring heavily following his 2023 move from boyhood club Vasco da Gama.
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Chelsea finished just 10th in the Premier League last season, failing to qualify for any European competition following a dismal campaign.
Manchester United looked set for a similar fate but improved after Carrick took over in January to finish third and qualify for the Champions League.
‘My first week is a little bit funny because you know when you change, so it’s a new club,’ Santos said from United’s pre-season camp.
‘But since my first day I feel at home, so I think this is so important for me and for new players as well.
‘Is it a step up from Chelsea? Yeah, of course. I know Chelsea is a big club as well, so I think thank you for everything Chelsea did for me in my period.
‘But now Chelsea is gone, here is my home right now. And I want to be here for a long, long time and win so many trophies.
‘I have my goals and I hope that I can work with my teammates with my goals and and hope to win some trophies.’
Santos hopes to fill the void left by Casemiro’s departure from Manchester United, adding: ‘I prefer playing deep like a number six.
‘I try help my teammates without the ball and with the ball I love breaking the lines.
‘For me Casemiro is a legend. Now he’s gone and I’m here. I feel that I can do like Casemiro did last season.’
Santos is not the only midfielder to arrive at Old Trafford this summer, with Youri Tielemans joining from Aston Villa in a deal worth £35m.
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Champions League holders PSG in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.
Carrick’s side have two more warm-up games, against Leeds United and AC Milan, before kick-starting their Premier League campaign against newly-promoted Hull City.
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