Andrey Santos

Santos reads passing lanes early, stepping in front of an opponent's pass rather than waiting to make a tackle after the ball has already arrived. His timing means he wins possession cleanly more often than he concedes free kicks, keeping United's structure intact during transitions. Unlike a purely defensive midfielder, he then drives forward with the ball himself, covering ground quickly and looking to start an attack rather than passing sideways to safety.

The tension with Santos is discipline, because a midfielder this eager to intercept and carry the ball can also be the one caught upfield when a move breaks down. He is still adjusting to a league where the space he anticipates does not always appear as reliably as before. Watch how United's other midfielders cover for him when he pushes forward, because that balance determines whether his aggression is an asset or a risk.