Manchester United include Andrey Santos in travelling squad for Wrexham friendly
Sameer Bhatia July 18, 2026 01:25 AM

Manchester United have revealed their travelling squad for the upcoming pre-season friendly against Wrexham this weekend. The Red Devils will take on the Championship side in Helsinki on Saturday, 18 July, marking their first fixture of the pre-season campaign.

The Premier League club approach the game after finishing last season on a high under Michael Carrick. United secured third place in the Premier League table following a remarkable run of form since Carrick’s appointment in January, winning 12 of his 17 matches in charge.

The Red Devils are preparing for what promises to be an exciting 2026/27 season, which will see them compete in the new format of the UEFA Champions League for the first time. INEOS, the club’s ownership group, are working to strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window, particularly after Casemiro’s departure from Old Trafford on a free transfer.

The Brazilian midfielder played a crucial role in Carrick’s successful spell last season and left a strong legacy at the Theatre of Dreams. United are keen to ensure his absence is not felt in the upcoming campaign and have already added several new players to the squad this summer.

Earlier in the window, United were linked with Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes but failed to land either player. They were also close to signing Ederson from Atalanta before deciding against completing the deal at the last moment.

Although those missed opportunities disappointed some fans, United have since secured three new signings for Carrick’s team. Andrey Santos was the first arrival of the summer, joining from Chelsea as INEOS continued their approach of targeting players with Premier League experience.

With goalkeeping reinforcements needed following Andre Onana’s loan move to Trabzonspor, the club swiftly brought in free agent Karl Darlow. Additionally, Youri Tielemans joined from Aston Villa to bolster the midfield with his experience and composure.

Supporters were hoping to see all three new signings in action soon, but it appears that only one of them will feature in this weekend’s squad.

Manchester United have confirmed that Andrey Santos is included in the travelling squad for the friendly against Wrexham. The Brazilian midfielder has already taken part in training sessions with his new teammates this week and could make his debut against the Championship outfit.

Youri Tielemans, however, has not been named in the squad as he continues to enjoy a well-earned break following his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Other players who featured in the tournament are also missing, while Karl Darlow remains in Manchester as he recovers from a minor fitness issue.

Benjamin Sesko is another absentee as he continues to recover from a knock sustained towards the end of last season. The Slovenian striker is expected to be fit before the new campaign begins. Young prospect JJ Gabriel has also not been included in the squad.

With full-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui unavailable, the match could offer academy talent Jaydan Kamason a chance to impress Carrick. Youngsters Harry Amass and Shea Lacey are also expected to be involved in the friendly.

The clash with Wrexham will provide Carrick an opportunity to evaluate his players ahead of what is expected to be a demanding season. Fans will be particularly eager to see how Andrey Santos performs, hoping the young midfielder can make an immediate impact in his first outing for the club.

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