Andrey Santos Set for Manchester United Debut in Wrexham Friendly

Andrey Santos is poised for his first taste of life in Manchester United red on Saturday, named in the travelling squad for the pre-season friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki.

The 22-year-old Brazilian, Michael Carrick’s first permanent signing, only walked through the doors at Carrington on Monday after completing a move from Chelsea in a deal that could rise to £50 million ($67.2m). Four days of training later, he is on the plane and in line for an early audition.

Carrick’s first signing steps into the spotlight

United’s 25-man group for Finland is a deliberate blend of hardened first-teamers and ambitious prospects. It is also a reminder of how many senior names are still missing.

Youri Tielemans, another new arrival in midfield, is among those yet to rejoin the squad after World Cup duty, part of a core of experienced players whose summers have run long. That has opened the door for others.

• Harry Maguire
• Bryan Mbeumo
• Patrick Dorgu
• Leny Yoro
• Luke Shaw
• Ayden Heaven
• Mason Mount
• Joshua Zirkzee

are all involved and should provide the spine of the side at various stages. Around them, Carrick has sprinkled youth: highly rated defender Harry Amass, creative livewire Shea Lacey and a cluster of academy midfielders and forwards eager to seize a rare stage.

Jaydan Kamason will hope to stake a claim at right-back, while Jacob Devaney, Dan Gore and Jim Thwaites bolster a midfield unit that suddenly looks crowded but not yet settled. Twins Tyler and Jack Fletcher also travel, another sign that Carrick is willing to push teenagers into senior environments quickly.

Sesko sits out as young forwards sense opportunity

One notable absentee is Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenia striker, who missed the final three games of last season with a shin injury, has stayed behind to continue working towards full fitness.

His omission changes the dynamic up front. With no Sesko to lead the line, the door swings open for young forwards Chidi Obi and Ethan Wheatley to press their case. Both are in the squad and both know chances like this, in front of a first-team coaching staff and against seasoned professionals, can accelerate careers. JJ Gabriel, however, does not make the trip.

In goal, the new signing will have to wait. Karl Darlow, brought in this week on a free from Leeds, has not travelled. Veteran Tom Heaton instead anchors the goalkeeping group, supported by youngsters Radek Vitek and Dermot Mee, who will treat any minutes as invaluable experience.

Wrexham tune up before U.S. tour

For Wrexham, Helsinki is more than a one-off glamour date. It is the final tune-up before a high-profile tour of the United States, where they are scheduled to face Leeds, Liverpool and Sunderland.

Phil Parkinson has not brought a full-strength squad to Finland. Josh Windass and Max Cleworth both stay at home as they manage lingering issues from last season.

“We're where we need to be in terms of fitness,” Parkinson said. “We've got a few lads, like most clubs, who have come back in later, with one or two niggly things which have carried over from last season.

“However, we're not overly concerned with those and the lads are in a good place. There'll be a few who aren't quite ready for the game at the weekend and will be training here instead.

“Josh has been running this week. He's had a slight problem with his calf, but he's in great shape and there's no need to rush him too much. Max had a problem with his Achilles, which has been an ongoing problem. But we feel this off-season, and this slow build-up for him now, will do him good.”

So Helsinki becomes a crossroads of sorts. For United, it is a first look at Andrey Santos in their colours and another step in Carrick’s evolving rebuild. For Wrexham, it is the last rehearsal before the bright lights of an American summer and a test of how far their rising project can stretch.