Santos says he can fill Casemiro's shoes, calling him a legend

Andrey Santos says he can be the solution to Manchester United's defensive midfield problem and replace compatriot Casemiro.

Manchester United signed 22-year-old Santos from Chelsea for £50 million after missing out on Elliot Anderson and Matheus Fernandes. Manchester United football director Jason Wilcox described Santos as a box-to-box midfielder last month, but the Brazilian played in a deeper role during Manchester United's pre-season warm-up matches.

Manchester United are looking to sign a third midfielder to compensate for Casemiro's departure and Ugarte's long-term injury, and recently enquired about Tchouaméni from Real Madrid. But Santos has volunteered to fill the void left by Casemiro, who departed in June.

Santos said: "My strength is that I like to play in a deeper position, such as the No. 6 role. I will help my teammates both in and out of possession, and I like to play forward passes. Casemiro is like a legend to me. Now he has left Manchester United, and I have arrived. I feel I can do what Casemiro did last season, and I am here to do exactly that."

Santos started all four of Manchester United's warm-up matches and is expected to make his official debut in the Premier League opener against Hull City on August 22. Chelsea had loaned Santos out four times over three and a half years to Vasco da Gama, Nottingham Forest, and Strasbourg before eventually selling him.

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