Andrey Santos ready to make competitive debut for Chelsea against his former rivals Flamengo after two-year wait | OneFootball

Andrey Santos is ready to make his competitive debut for Chelsea when they face Flamengo in their second group game of the Club World Cup.

The fixture carries personal weight for Santos, who came through the ranks at Vasco da Gama, one of Brazil’s most historic clubs and the bitter rivals of Flamengo.

The rivalry, known as the ‘Clássico dos Milhões’ (The Derby of Millions), is one of the fiercest in South American football. It dates back over a century, with the first official meeting between the clubs taking place in 1923.

Speaking on the rivalry, Santos said: “Flamengo and Vasco da Gama is like Argentina and Brazil. I know there are many people from Brazil here and the support of their fans is amazing. It’s hard because I played for Flamengo’s rival, so of course when I’m on the pitch, they’re probably not going to say nice things about me.

“It’s probably going to happen but it’s football, it’s normal for me, I’m looking forward to it. Against Flamengo, there’s always an extra motivation.”

Given the passionate rivalry, Santos also revealed he has had lots of messages urging him to get one over on his former rivals.

“The pressure is great. I received a lot of messages from Vasco fans on Instagram, there is also pressure from my friends, from my father, so I think I am under a lot of pressure regarding the result, but I hope everything goes well.

“Everyone is asking for a victory, my father is also very critical, he asked for a goal against Flamengo if I have the opportunity, to do everything to come out victorious and, God willing, to be able to score a goal.”

The 21-year-old joined the Blues from Vasco in 2023 for £18 million but has spent the last two years out on loan, initially at Nottingham Forest for the first half of the 2023/24 season, then Strasbourg for the second half, before returning to the French club for the whole campaign last year.

But he said a lot has changed for him, and he wants to stay at Chelsea this term: “When we talk about Chelsea, we have to work to win every competition. In two years a lot of things have happened. Now I have my son, I’m married, my whole life has changed. I have more experience, and I think I can be ready for the huge challenge.”