Chelsea Delivers Crushing Blow to Clubs Chasing Andrey Santos
Juventus have been informed there is absolutely no possibility of securing any type of agreement for Chelsea's midfielder Andrey Santos, according to recent reports.
The 21-year-old Santos became a Chelsea player in January 2023 and impressed significantly during his loan spell with Strasbourg in Ligue 1 last season. Recording 12 goals and five assists in all competitions, the Brazilian international attracted considerable attention before returning to Stamford Bridge this summer.
Enzo Maresca included Santos in his Club World Cup roster and is eager to integrate him into this season's plans, so much so that, as reported by Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have delivered a clear hands-off message amid Juventus' interest.
Chelsea are not only rejecting permanent transfer proposals, but they're also unwilling to allow Santos another loan departure, instead considering him an essential component of their midfield options alongside Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández and Roméo Lavia.
Only an "extraordinary market offer" would potentially convince Chelsea to consider discussions, effectively ending Juventus' summer transfer aspirations.
In an interview with AS prior to the Club World Cup, Santos expressed his desire to remain at Chelsea this summer while emphasizing his focus on securing sufficient playing time to maintain his position in Brazil's World Cup squad.
"My intention is to stay at Chelsea," he stated. "I need to play, I need minutes to secure my World Cup place.
"My goal is to establish myself at Chelsea, play consistently and become a guaranteed starter, while winning trophies in this jersey. Regarding Brazil, I want to be selected for every possible squad and, hopefully, make it to the World Cup. These are my objectives."
Santos earned his initial four Chelsea appearances during the Club World Cup, even recording an assist in his debut match. He subsequently played in both of his team's pre-season matches and provided another assist in the 4–1 victory against AC Milan.