Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, who is currently loaned at Sister Club Strasbourg, hopes to form a “big duo of the Brazilians” alongside Teenage Prodigy Estevao Willian.
The 20-year-old Santos arrived in the Stamford Bridge to Great Fanfare in January 2023 before returning to Brazil to be borrowed from Vasco de Gama. It was expected that Santos had an immediate influence on his return to Chelsea, but was quickly borrowed to Nottingham Forest – a step that did not work in the slightest when he only appeared in five months.
A loan switch in Strasbourg followed in February 2024 and Santos has stayed in Ligue 1 since then. Slowly but surely he has established himself as a key player in the central midfield and this season has appeared nine goals this season.
There are still high hopes for Santos in Chelsea, which is one of a number of flowering young talents that the club can develop into important first team players in the next few years. Geovany Quenda and Dario Essuga will join Sporting CP in the summer – a further reference to Chelsea’s commitment to the youth – but the player to create most hype has attacked the midfielder Estevao.
The 17-year-old, who will move to Chelsea in July after 18 years, has already broken into Brazil’s Senior International Side after effectively reaching Palmeiras. And Santos has announced that he is looking forward to joining his compatriot in West London in order to get a clear indication of where he wants his own future to lie.
“Estevao is a first -class player, world -class,” said Santos to ESPN Brazil. “I am a good friend of Savinho (from Manchester City), he said he was a great person. God wants, he will go wide and we can create a great duo in Chelsea, a duo of Brazilians.”
It is not yet clear whether Santos will be integrated into Chelsea’s plans, but it is clear that he is ready to use his opportunity if this talks about his future head this summer.
“Of course they want to play for a very large club like Chelsea for the largest clubs in Europe,” he said. “Of course you dream of this moment, but I think the moment is to have a clear head, end the season here to make the best choice when the season is over.
“Many people send me news [about Chelsea]But I don’t think there is anything specific, “he continued.” Nobody came directly to me and spoke to me. It is in Chelsea’s hands, it is in the hands of my agents, it is in my hands.
“At the moment I am focusing on these last games that are very important for Strasbourg. When the season ends, we will see what happens, everyone will sit down and speak to make the best decision for both sides.”