Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand is not convinced that new signing Andre Santos will be an automatic starter for the club when the season begins.
Ferdinand made the comments on his Rio Reacts podcast, suggesting that Santos, a Brazilian midfielder, may not be the immediate replacement for departing player Casemiro.
Despite Santos' experience playing in the Premier League and earning six caps for Brazil, Ferdinand believes that the midfielder may require some time to adjust to the level of competition in the English top-flight.
Ferdinand did praise Santos' potential, suggesting that he could grow into a long-term partner for young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
However, the former defender also expressed the need for the club to bring in additional signings to share the load in midfield.
Ferdinand acknowledged that Santos has played in the Premier League and has international experience, but noted that some fans have been negative towards the signing, citing the fact that other clubs have signed more high-profile players.
Ultimately, Ferdinand believes that Santos is a good addition to the squad, but may not start immediately.
Ferdinand's comments suggest that he is looking forward to seeing how Santos develops and adjusts to the team, and whether he can become a key player for Manchester United in the long term.
