Chelsea to Integrate Andrey Santos into First-Team Squad, Citing “Perfect Fit” for Maresca

Chelsea’s decision to include Andrey Santos in their first-team squad next season, as reported by Simon Johnson in The Athletic, has raised some eyebrows but is now becoming clearer.

Santos, a Chelsea midfielder who spent last season on loan, seemed set to continue his development at Strasbourg, the club’s affiliate in Ligue 1.

He had been thriving there since January, playing regularly under Patrick Vieira and adapting well to European football.

However, recent developments indicate that Santos will be integrated into Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad next season, just a year after arriving in Europe and only six months after a challenging loan spell at Nottingham Forest, which he left halfway through due to limited playing time.

Chelsea’s Squad Plans for Santos

According to a source quoted by Johnson, Chelsea sees Santos as an ideal fit for Maresca’s style of play:

“Stylistically, Santos is a perfect fit to play under Enzo Maresca. His ball retention is out of this world. He can play as a No 6 or a No 8 — so he is versatile.”

Despite the abundance of midfield talent at Chelsea and the numerous games they will face next season, there might be concerns about Santos repeating his Nottingham Forest experience, where he struggled for minutes amidst stiff competition.

However, Chelsea appears to have assured him of sufficient playing time, and he must trust in these promises. Santos brings considerable defensive quality and physicality, traits that Maresca is expected to value highly in his midfield options.

As the club moves forward, Santos’ integration will be closely watched, and his potential contributions could play a significant role in Chelsea’s upcoming season.