Man Utd 0-1 Wrexham: Andrey Santos makes Red Devils debut in opening pre-season loss in Helsinki
Match report as Manchester United lose 1-0 to Wrexham in their opening pre-season fixture of the summer; new £50m signing from Chelsea Andrey Santos made his debut before Michael Carrick rung the changes at half-time; United's next game is against Rosenborg in Trondheim on July 24
Saturday 18 July 2026 19:23, UK
Andrey Santos made his Manchester United debut as Michel Carrick's side lost 1-0 to Wrexham in their opening pre-season fixture at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki.
The Brazil midfielder played the first 45 minutes of the game following his recent £50m transfer from Chelsea, although had little chance to impress as United's new permanent head coach changed every player with his side trailing at the break.
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Carrick brought on United's Academy players as he sought a way back into the contest in the second half, captained by Tyler Fletcher, but without success as Wrexham held on for the win secured thanks to Sam Smith's far-post tap in six minutes before half-time.
And in truth, it could have been more had United backup goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who caught the eye while out on loan with Bristol City last season, not made an excellent stop to deny Davis Keillor-Dunn midway through the second period.
The key moments from the Olympic Stadium
18: WHAT A CHALLENGE! Heaven with a wonderfully well-timed tackle in the box on Cadamarteri - former Everton striker Danny's son - to win back possession and boy did the youngster need to get that right.
25: SHOT! Some neat build-up play by United in and around the Wrexham box, before Zirkzee flashes a fierce drive inches past the left-hand post from the edge of the box.
36: BAR! Mount's inswinging corner is inadvertently headed against his own bar by Smith under pressure by Yoro at the near post.
39: GOAL! Wow, out of nothing and against the run of play, Wrexham lead. The Championship side take a throw down their left as Thomason links up with O'Brien, whose low ball across the six-yard box somehow makes its way through Maguire's legs to the unmarked Smith, who had a simple tap in at the far post.
66: SAVE! Keillor-Dunn is played clean through on goal by a wonderful defence-splitting pass, but backup 'keeper Vitek does well to stand up tall and make an important block with his legs.
'Santos is getting into a rhythm - it was good to see him out on the pitch'
Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick:
"As I said before the game, the boys have been back together for kind of a week properly, 10 days or so," he told MUTV.
"It was about getting through today to be honest and looking for some positives, looking for some good things, knowing that it wasn't going to be perfect and, you know, and that's only natural for the first one.
"I think the most important thing of all for us is that everyone came through it and in good shape and no injuries, so we can, we can move on again and take the next step going into the next game next week.
"Mason [Mount] did some really good things and connected really well, and you could see some positives there. I think top end of the pitch, those sharp little movements and those little bright kind of moments progress through the weeks of training.
"But I thought there were good signs. Andrey [Santos] is getting into a rhythm, getting a feeling of it again. So it was good to see him out on the pitch.
"They'll [United's World Cup players] start coming back soon. The squad will get stronger and stronger as we get closer to the season, which we knew. But we've got a good group here.
"We're really looking forward to the games coming up, and we'll keep making a difference, keep improving, and keep pushing towards the start of the season."
'More-than-useful runout for United despite defeat'
Analysis by Sky Sports' Rich Morgan:
"This was a more-than-useful runout for Manchester United in their opening pre-season fixture of the summer, Michael Carrick giving those first teamers in the squad who travelled to Finland the opening 45 minutes in the Olympic Stadium, including recent new £50m signing from Chelsea Andrey Santos, skipper Harry Maguire, fellow England internationals Luke Shaw and Mason Mount and the likes of Patrick Dorgu and Bryan Mbeumo among others.
"The Brazilian slotted in neatly in central midfield alongside Mount and Jack Fletcher, before as expected United's new permanent head coach changed every player at the break as he gave a chance for his Academy stars to impress in the second period, including Fletcher's twin brother Tyler who captained the team.
"The defeat will largely be irrelevant to Carrick and his coaching team, especially given their Championship opponents are a good few weeks ahead in their preseason preparations.
"What will have been more important to Carrick as he gears up for the start of the 2026/26 Premier League campaign at newly-promoted Hull City on August 22 will be the fact his squad have got valuable miles in their legs ahead of their next preseason clash with Rosenborg on July 24."
Man Utd's pre-season fixtures
- July 24: Man Utd vs Rosenborg - Trondheim, 5pm
- August 1: Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid - Stockholm, 2pm
- August 8: Man Utd vs PSG - Gothenburg, 4pm
- August 12: Man Utd vs Leeds - Dublin, 7.30pm
- August 15: Man Utd vs AC Milan - Wroclaw, 3.45pm
