Paul Ince has voiced his disapproval of Manchester United's £48 million acquisition of Andrey Santos from Chelsea, labeling the transfer as 'baffling' and questioning the club's strategy in midfield. The former United captain expressed his concerns in an interview with Oddschecker, highlighting the substantial fee paid for the young Brazilian despite the emergence of academy talent Kobbie Mainoo.
Ince's Concerns Over Santos Signing
Santos, who made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season, completed his move to Old Trafford last month after United manager Michael Carrick identified him as a key target. Carrick had instructed the club to sign at least two midfielders following the departure of Casemiro and a serious injury to Manuel Ugarte. While Ince praised the arrival of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, he remained skeptical about Santos.
'I think when you look at what Manchester United are trying to do, they obviously need to strengthen in that area,' Ince said. 'They've signed the lad Santos from Chelsea for almost £50m, which is a lot of money for someone like him. I think the jury's still out on that one.'
Ince further elaborated on his reservations, pointing to Mainoo's potential as a more cost-effective solution. 'To spend that much on a young central midfield player when you've got someone like Kobbie Mainoo coming through the ranks baffled me a bit,' he added.
Mainoo's Rising Stock
Ince, who captained United in the 1990s, was full of praise for Mainoo, suggesting the 21-year-old could be the answer to United's midfield needs. 'Obviously Tielemans I think is a fantastic player. He's more of a [Bruno] Fernandes type of player, but a very good player. The midfield needed to be strengthened but I think Mainoo can definitely play that role. He's got a really good head on his shoulders. He's young, he's got legs, he can keep hold of the ball.'
'Whenever I watch him he does things easily and he looked like a completely different player towards the back-end of last season. If he can repeat that form this season it would be great for Manchester United. But they've got plenty of options in there now so it will be interesting to see which way Michael Carrick goes.'
Rashford's Future at United
Ince also weighed in on the future of Marcus Rashford, who returned to United after a loan spell at Barcelona. Barcelona opted not to make the move permanent, and United have been exploring options to offload the England international. However, Ince believes Carrick can revitalize Rashford's career.
'I feel for Rashford, I really do, because I think he's a fantastic player. He can play off the left and he can play off the right,' Ince said. 'I'm not sure if many people watched him last year playing for Barcelona but he was scoring goals, he was enjoying himself, and he looked a completely different player. Then when you think Barcelona are going to sign him they get Anthony Gordon and it kills Rashford. You saw in the World Cup the magic he can bring, he's got that talent.'
Ince urged United to keep Rashford and provide him with the support he needs. 'I just think Michael Carrick can get the best out of him, I really, really do. I think if you just put your arm around Rashford then you're going to see a very, very good player. Fingers crossed that's the case. But there's one thing for sure, he is a very, very talented player and if he's happy, he will perform for you.'
United's Season Ahead
Carrick guided United to a third-place finish in the Premier League last season, securing Champions League qualification. The Red Devils will begin their 2026-27 campaign on August 22 against newly-promoted Hull City, with expectations high after a busy summer of transfer activity.
