Chelsea set to hand long-awaited debut at Club World Cup | OneFootball

Andrey Santos Eyes Long-Awaited Chelsea Debut at Club World Cup

Midfield talent determined to seize his moment

There is something uniquely poignant about the patience of youth in football, especially when it’s framed by loyalty, resilience, and the unflinching belief that the right moment will come. For Andrey Santos, that moment appears to be on the horizon. After 18 months of development across Brazil, England and France, the 21-year-old midfielder is finally set to wear Chelsea blue.

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Speaking in a recent interview, Santos confirmed he is due to take part in this summer’s expanded Club World Cup with the Blues. “The only conversation I had was that I’d play in the Club World Cup for Chelsea, and after that, we’ll see what happens,” he told the Daily Mail, as cited by The Standard. It is a statement of cautious hope, wrapped in the grounded realism that only experience can provide.

Development journey showing real maturity

Signed for £16 million from Vasco da Gama in January 2023, Santos’s Chelsea career has been one of stops and starts. A return to Brazil was followed by a testing loan at Nottingham Forest, where opportunities were scarce. It was only in the quieter surroundings of Ligue 1 with Strasbourg that the Brazilian found his rhythm.

Scoring 10 league goals in a competitive French top flight is no small feat for a young midfielder. His form helped Strasbourg finish seventh and qualify for the Europa Conference League play-offs — and in doing so, cemented his own growing reputation.

Clear message from Maresca

New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been in contact. “Enzo Maresca was very sincere with me. I went to Strasbourg to get minutes. Now we’ll see how it goes at the Club World Cup,” Santos explained. There is mutual respect in that comment — a sense of clarity and professional understanding.

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Chelsea will require depth as they navigate domestic and international commitments next season, and Santos’s maturity and versatility may prove vital. What he now needs is a platform. The Club World Cup could provide exactly that.

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For Chelsea fans, it will be heartening to hear this update on Andrey Santos. This is someone who’s clearly committed to the club and whose journey shows the value of smart development. Unlike other loanees who drift, Santos has used his time in France to prove his ability — 10 goals from midfield is no fluke.

What stands out most is his love for Chelsea. In a modern game where players can often feel like assets, Santos talks about the fans, about messages during tough times, and about his desire to play for the shirt. That matters. Those are the players you want stepping onto the pitch.

If the Club World Cup is his launching pad, it’s a deserved one. And if Maresca is watching closely, as it seems he is, then Santos may not just be making up the numbers — he could become an integral part of the squad rotation next season. It’s been a long time coming, but this debut could be the start of something genuinely exciting.