Without delay, this article delves into the journey of Andrey Santos, who started out as an overweight toddler, a concern that deeply troubled his grandmother, Sueli. Seeking solutions, she turned to football as a means to help him shed excess weight. Recognizing the sport’s potential, Sueli encouraged Andrey to take up football as a way to slim down and lead a healthier lifestyle.
We’ll tell you the story of Andrey Santos, a little boy who shed his baby fat because of his grandmother.
Once more, we bring you the story of a resilient young champion, Andrey Santos, who faced a playful yet significant obstacle from his Vasco da Gama former teammates. They playfully tied him up to prevent him from catching his flight to sign with Chelsea after his acquisition in 2023. Why did Santos’ teammates do that? Simply put, they were already missing him dearly, torn between wanting to keep him and knowing he needed to move on with his life and career.
Yes, they physically restrained him and once prevented that big-money move to Chelsea. Santos, one of his country’s most highly-rated midfield talents, was, on this day, tied up by his teammates
From the loving support of his parents, Jordania Gregoriano and André Luiz, Andrey Santos’ journey unfolds not just as a quest for professional success but as a testament to family solidarity, ambition, and the Brazilian ethos. Alongside his sister, Andressa, and girlfriend, Yngryd Freire, Andrey’s personal life adds depth to his narrative, revealing the bonds that fuel his drive on and off the field. This article invites you to explore the life of a promising Brazilian talent, offering insights into his upbringing, values, and the promising future that lies ahead in football.
Preamble:
Our article on Andrey Santos’ Biography starts by recounting significant moments from his boyhood years. We will then guide you through his early career, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his life. Finally, we’ll detail how the Vasco da Gama prodigy soared in the world of football.
We aim to ignite your curiosity with this captivating account of Andrey Santos’ life story. To kick things off, let’s present a gallery that chronicles the journey of the 2023 Chelsea winter transfer recruit. Without a doubt, this talented player has come a long way in his life.
Andrey Santos Biography – From his Early Years to the moment he achieved Fame.
Andrey Santos is renowned for his exceptional playmaking abilities, on-the-ball skills, and precise passing, akin to talents like Joshua Kimmich and Frenkie de Jong. He serves as a crucial link in his team’s quick transitions from defence to offence.
In our exploration of Brazilian midfielders, we identified a gap in knowledge regarding Andrey Santos’ history. This memoir aims to fulfil your curiosity with a detailed account of his biography. So, without delay, let’s delve into the story of the footballer from Rio de Janeiro.
Andrey Santos Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, he bears the full name Andrey Nascimento dos Santos. The Baller from Brazil was born on the 3rd day of May 2004 to his Mother, Jordania Gregoriano and his Father, André Luiz, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
On the above day, he arrived into the world as the first child among two children born to the union between his Dad and Mum.
Now, let’s introduce you to Andrey Santos’ Parents. Jordania and André are persons who ensured their son’s youthful football experience was positive and fulfilling.
Meet Andrey Santos’ Parents. His father’s name is André Luiz, and his mother is Jordania Gregorian..
Growing-Up Years:
Santos spent his childhood years in the Vila Aliança Neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When his parents, André and Jordania, got married, they decided to have two kids – that is, Andre and his little sister. Santos spent his childhood days with his sister, Andressa, by his side. From an early age, they were not only playmates but also confidants, supporting each other through the challenges of growing up.
Meet Andressa Santos, who is Andrey Santos’ sister.
Andrey Santos Early Life (Football Start):
First things first, it might interest you to know that the Athlete once never knew he was going to become a footballer.
It wasn’t Andrey Santos’ parents that pushed him into the sport. It was his late grandmum, Sueli. Seeing her grandson play football really made her feel so happy.
The primary reason for Andrey to start football (under his grandmother’s influence) was simply because of his weight.
Santos, like Marcus Acuna and Isco, was born as a chubby kid. His late grandmother Sueli, who cared for him, didn’t like the idea of his overweight nature. So, she (pictured below) acted quickly.
Meet young Andrey Santos and his late Grandmother, Sueli, who introduced him to football.
When her grandson reached the age of four, he still remained overweight. Andrey Santos’ grandmum saw sport as the only way to help her grandson.
So, the late Sueli enrolled him in a neighbourhood futsal school in Bangu. From the first moment, her boy grandson never looked back.
Andrey Santos Family Background:
Although the Rio de Janeiro Athlete holds no rags-to-riches story to his name, he was born to parents who were not wealthy.
As revealed by Globo Esporte, Jordania and André once depended on their son’s club (Vasco da Gama) to provide food as well as fund their son’s schooling.
Initially, Andrey Santos’ childhood was difficult. André and Jordania, his parents, once went through financial difficulties. It came at a time when they raised their kids in the crime-infested neighbourhood of Vila Aliança, in Bangu (Rio de Janeiro).
Despite the obstacles, giving up wasn’t an option. In the end, Andre’s football career lifted his family out of hardship.
In the end, Andre lifted his parents up to live their dream life of luxury, not the other way around.
The presence of Jordania and André in their son’s life has been fundamental to his career. Even at times, he lived in his club’s accommodation, the youngster still got monitored by his parents.
The ear pulling remains constant to this day, simply because Andrey is the pride of the Santos family.
Jordania and André are super amazed to see their son grow up too fast. For Andrey Santos’ Mum, he remains that little child she gave birth to years ago. In the words of the Athlete;
When my mum calls me “my little baby”, I say “hey mom, stop it” (laughs).
Andrey Santos Family Origin:
The Athlete once revealed to Globo Esporte that he was born in the Basque neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro.
In other words, Andrey Santos’ Parents are from the Basque region of Brazil. We’ve made this map gallery to help you understand the origin of the Ex-Vasco da Gama star.
This map gallery shows the part of Brazil that Andrey Santos’ family comes from.
Judging by what we’ve displayed above, it is a known fact that Rio de Janeiro is known for its natural beauty.
Two notable attractions of the city include its famous beaches and the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer, also known as Cristo Redentor.
Ethnicity:
Andrey Santos identifies with Brazil’s Pardo ethnic group. His ancestry reflects a blend of European (Portuguese), Native Brazilian, and African heritage, passed down through his father. His mother’s side carries a Portuguese family name, Nascimento.
Pardo ethnic group, which Andrey identifies with, holds about 43% of the Brazilian population. Again, this ethnic group in Brazil is noticeable in people who have a brown skin colour.
There are many popular Brazilian footballers (active and retired) with brown skin. Some examples (those we’ve written their Bio) are Ronaldo de Lima, Felipe Anderson, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, etc.
Andrey Santos Education:
Right from childhood, going to school was something he liked to do, and he understood it to be very important. Andrey Santos’ football education began at the age of four. This was a time he, an overweight toddler, got enrolled into a local futsal club by his grandmum.
As revealed earlier when we discussed Andrey Santos’ family background, his former club, Vasco da Gama, sponsored the bulk of his early schooling.
Although it was a little difficult to reconcile school and training routines, Andrey had always gotten his plan B.
Even before he became a professional, young Andre had agreed to become a football coach in the future.
The first goal is to become a successful footballer and then, after, be a coach too. Andrey Santos also has a goal of studying physical education at college.
Career Buildup:
Football began at the age of four, when Sueli, Andrey’s late grandmother, enrolled him in the futsal school in Bangu.
From that age, Andrey began playing competitive soccer. When he was six, the youngster was selected for a competition that changed his life forever.
Andrey Santos Biography – Football Story:
In that competition we mentioned above, he was one of the boys who excelled against Vasco da Gama. This professional sports club in Rio de Janeiro couldn’t let the boy go.
Immediately, they approached Andrey Santos’ parents to ask if their son could play for them in the following season.
Following Jordania and André’s approval, their only son left Bangu futsal school to the Vasco base. Santos’ career with the academy began on solid footings.
Because he was that good, his coach approved him to play in youth categories above his age.
Competing against older boys gave Andrey so much maturity. Back then, as a child, Santos idolized Cristiano Ronaldo.
CR7’s victorious career with Real Madrid inspired him and other boys. Stay Boy, Andrey began winning trophies and collecting honours shortly after he got into Vasco da Gama academy.
On this day, young Santos won his first junior career trophy with Vasco da Gama.
As the Rising star progressed, he saw himself maturing quickly as well as assuming the responsibility of grown-ups.
At Vasco, Andrey was given special treatment and extra care, which saw him develop without pressure. Sometimes, his tremendous confidence made him forget he was still a boy.
One of the benefits of joining Vasco da Gama was the fact that the academy supported his schooling.
As Andrey grew up, he moved into the club’s accommodation. Leaving his Mum, Dad and little sister, Andressa, was difficult at first. But in the end, staying in the digs was worth it.
The young Vasco da Gama footballer takes a photo with his Dad and little sister (who are big fans of the club).
Quest for Fame:
Even though there was a bit of homesickness, he enjoyed the many benefits of living in a football accommodation.
Some of it includes proximity to training facilities, access to training facilities, stronger bonding with teammates and an improved focus on football education.
The year 2019 was a turning point for the teenager who had been called to represent the under-15 arm of Brazil’s junior national team. Do you know?… Andrey was among those who helped Brazil win the 2019 South American Under-15 Football Championship.
Andrey scored in the final penalty shootout, and his Brazilian U-15 side won the trophy against Argentina.
Thanks to his maturity, the 16-year-old midfielder was made to wear the captain’s armband for his club and country.
At that age, in the year 2021, the joy of Andrey Santos’ family knew no bounds as their breadwinner signed his first professional contract with Vasco da Gama.
To the right of Santos contains the following persons; Flávio Chaves (a businessman), Andressa (Andrey’s sister), and Jordania (his Mum).
And to the right of Andre, we have Fábio Menezes (a businessman) and André Luiz (his Dad).
Signing his first professional contract meant a significant increase in his income, and that provided the Athlete’s family with greater financial security.
Road to Fame Story:
As a professional, he wore the No.8 shirt and thought about following in the footsteps of one of Vasco da Gama’s eternal icons.
He is no other than Juninho Pernambucano. This one-time monster footballer made his name in Lyon, France, for his unique free-kick abilities.
As a pro, Santos went on to become the youngest goalscorer in Vasco’s history. Nene, the club’s veteran midfielder, once said that ; “Andre has an incredible maturity for a 16 year old. And It seems like he has been with us for many years.”
Even as a pro, the youngster continued his winning mentality, as evident here.
He was one of the few exceptionally talented youth footballers who won multiple trophies before reaching 18.
As well as Juninho, there were talks that Andrey had surpassed the best Vasco academy graduates. Thanks to his winning nature, the 17 year old was rated more highly than Douglas Luiz, Philippe Coutinho, and Allan.
These footballers, who played in the English premier league, never achieved what Santos had with Vasco when they were 17.
Most fans aren’t confident that a footballer will win multiple trophies before 18, but Andre Santos achieved it.
Andrey’s first senior career season in a Vasco shirt ended with titles. Young Santos was a cornerstone for Vasco Da Gama in Série B during the 2021/2022 season.
His brilliance, including scoring eight goals, helped the club (Vasco) to secure promotion to the first division.
Becoming a subject of transfer speculations:
As reported by football scouts, one of Andrey’s most prominent attributes was passing, tacking and retaining the ball.
Thanks to his youthful rise, Santos (in his native Brazil) was already being compared to Bellingham, Legendary Casemiro and the FC Barcelona Legend Sergio Busquets.
In fact, there were reports that Barca was interested in the youngster and had already seen two of their bids for Santos rejected. Chelsea FC, who had a struggling start to the 2022/23 season, was another club interested in the youngster.
The Blues’ Vision 2030 project became the reason why Santos accepted to sign for Chelsea, who felt they could expect great things from the midfielder.
Santos became the club’s third new winter arrival after Benoit Badiashile and Ivorian Striker Datro Fofana. His arrival at Chelsea came just before he and Vitor Roque became top scorers at the 2023 South American U-20 Championship.
On this day, he thanked Vasco da Gama for opening the doors and helping him start realizing this dream with Chelsea.
For many Blues fans, their club had presumably secured one of the brightest young talents in Brazil. Physically, Santos is a beast, and technically, he (who likes to break lines) is on a high level to become one of the world’s best in his position.
The rest, as we say of the Athlete’s Bio, is now history.
Introducing Yngryd Freire:
Behind the success of the former Vasco da Gama Athlete comes a glamorous lover. Andrey Santos Girlfriend goes by the name Yngryd Freire.
Now, let’s introduce you to the Athlete’s partner, a lady who has put her own life on hold to support his dreams and aspirations.
Meet Andrey Santos’ Girlfriend.
Freire plays a significant role in Andrey’s life off the field. In addition to helping him manage his responsibilities, she ensures he maintains a healthy balance between his football job and leisure.
In addition to his parents, Andrey Santos’ girlfriend contributes to helping him stay grounded.
About Yngryd Freire:
Not many things are known about her, except for the fact that she, at the age of 13, started the business of selling phone accessories and tech gadgets.
Today, Yngryd Freire is a successful businessperson and the proud owner of Cases Cell (a big tech gadget company).
In June 2020, Andrey Santos’ girlfriend used this photo (at the left) to explain to fans her difficult journey of following her business dreams. In Freire’s words,
From starting small with an accessory business to become successful at it and, most importantly, being the future wife of a Chelsea footballer.
And that’s when my dream began. I made the brand, the logo, the store… even without any experience, I thought about all the details with great affection and dedication.
Thus was born Cases Cell! I was 13 years old and many dreams in my head… Those
who believe, always achieve! And if you’re scared, go scared!
Both on an off the pitch, Andre Santos’ girlfriend plays a vital role in his life. While he gets busy with training, Yngryd Freire helps him to manage his time and other responsibilities.
For example, making sure Andre maintains a healthy balance between work and leisure.
Personal Life:
Away from everything we know him to do on the pitch, who exactly is Andrey Santos? First things first, he is someone who loves that glamorous part of life.
In fact, there is nothing more special for Andre than spending time with his parents and little sister on the beach.
For him, nothing beats this kind of moment where they enjoy both the sun and waves in this manner.
Andrey Santos Lifestyle:
Ask the Emerging Brazilian talent about where he goes to spend his money, and you are most likely to hear about one notable destination in his country. That place is no other than the Muro Alto Beach located in Pernambuco, eastern Brazil.
Andrey Santos’ Car:
On a few occasions, football fans have spotted the midfield Phenom driving 4×4 vehicles on the beach.
Asides from driving these vehicles, which are designed to handle rough terrain and deep sand, the Athlete is yet to show fans his actual car preference.
The Baller loves the excitement and adventure that comes with driving a 4x4s on the beachside.
Andrey Santos Family Life:
Similar to Lewis Hall, his success as a youth footballer came not because he had a great team. Rather, it was the effect of proper upbringing by Andrey Santos’ Parents. Now, let’s use this section to tell you more about them.
Andrey Santos Mother:
Jordania Gregoriano is the woman who gave birth to the Chelsea Young gun. If there is one thing you should know about Andrey Santos’ Mum, it is the fact that she appreciates the mental benefits that come with being around water.
Mothers like Jordania Gregoriano adores the idea of incorporating water-based activities into their holiday routines.
Andrey Santos Father:
André Luiz is a visionary man, a proud Dad who plays the supportive role of being both a mentor and advisor for his son.
The proud Dad of two supports Andre’s football aspirations and works closely with his son’s agent (Bertolucci Sports) to ensure good representations.
André Luiz performs the role of a good liaison between his son and those who manage his career. Through his involvement, Andrey always gets the best deals.
Who is Bertolucci Sports? According to Transfermkt, this is the football agency that represents Andrey Santos.
This agency also handles the careers of top talents like Marquinhos (CB), Bruno Guimarães (DM), Gabriel Magalhães (CB), Matheus Cunha (CF), etc.
Andrey Santos’ Siblings:
The Brazilian Athlete who is set to replace Jorginho at Chelsea Football Club has only a sister and no brother. Now, let’s tell you more about Andressa.
Andrey Santos Sister:
From what we’ve gathered, Andressa is a football fanatic. The sister of Santos is someone who always falls in love with the crowded São Januário Stadium, especially every time her big brother scores a goal.
Having a sister in Andressa, who is a football fanatic, is fun and exciting.
There is a global saying that when a mum and daughter have something in common, it often leads to a stronger bond.
From what we’ve gathered, Andre Santos’ Sister and Mother both have shared hobbies, facial resemblance and personality traits.
As noticed from the picture at your right, Andressa and Jordania both enjoy a common ground for their discussions.
Andrey Santos Relatives:
The Defensive Midfielder’s late Grandmother (Sueli) played a significant role in shaping his football career. In fact, without her, the Brazilian soccer Phenom probably wouldn’t have known football or become a professional in the sport.
As earlier recalled in Andre Santos’ Bio, she was the person who instilled the love for the sport in him. That was a moment when he was deemed a little too obese as a kid.
So the late Sueli (Andre’s grandmum) enrolled him at Bangu futsal school in their neighbourhood.
Untold Facts:
In the final phase of Andrey Santos’ Biography, we’ll tell you more truths you might not know exist about him. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Andrey Santos FIFA:
It gladdens us to say that the Brazilian lacks absolutely nothing (below average) in football.
We have proofs that show the fact that he exhibits the Defensive midfield traits of Casimiro and Fabinho. It is rare to see a young footballer with a 90 FIFA potential at 18.
The Chelsea FC Phenom is just like Lucas Paqueta, a typical example of a complete footballer.
Andrey Santos Salary:
Adopting Capology’s wage algorithms, the Athlete is known to earn approximately £35,000 per week with Chelsea.
Converting this money into local Brazilian currency, means Andrey makes around R$217,796 per week. This table breaks Santos’ Chelsea wages – up what he makes every second.
How rich is the Brazilian Midfielder Sensation?
Andrey Santos Religion:
The Wunderkind joins the likes of Chelsea footballers – Trevoh Chalobah and Mykhailo Mudryk – who are devout Christians.
Andrey Santos’ Parents raised him as a Catholic, and he is the type who doesn’t shy from publicizing his faith. Do you notice Andrey’s Rosary in this photo?
It is clear that Santos has a Rosary, a sign that he is a Catholic.
EndNote:
Jordania Gregoriano and André Luiz had their son (the first child of their family) on the 3rd of May 2004. Andrey Nascimento dos Santos was raised alongside his sister, Andressa.
The Athlete’s family identifies with the Pardo ethnic group – a mix of Europe, Native Brazil and Africa.
Football fans today are grateful for the late Sueli. She is Andrey Santos’ grandmother (who is now late).
This is the woman who introduced him to football by enrolling him at Rio de Janeiro’s Bangu futsal school. The decision to do that came out of worry about her grandson’s physical looks.
Similar to Marcos Acuna of Argentina, Andrey Santos was born a chubby kid, and his late grandmother didn’t like that.
As a way of getting him to slim down on his weight, Sueli introduced futsal to her grandson. Andrey Santos’ Parents supported the idea of registering their son at a local futsal school in Bangu.
Andrey Santos began playing football when he was six. Like Neymar and many Brazilian players, he played futsal.
Andrey did futsal for two years before he got into the books of Vasco da Gama Academy. This football club in Rio de Janeiro found him after he excelled at a competition.
Santos began his Vasco career on solid footings. Thanks to his youth brilliance, he was made to compete with boys in higher age categories.
Andrey, who idolized Lionel Messi‘s GOAT rival (Cristiano Ronaldo) in his youth, had a very successful career with Vasco.
Having been at the club (Vasco) for a decade (10 years), Andrey signed his first professional contract in August of 2020, when he was 16.
On the 6th day of January 2023, Graham Potter’s Blues signed Santos from Vasco da Gama (as revealed by Chelsea’s website).
His arrival came in the same winter transfer window that Chelsea signed top talents like Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandes.
Final Note:
Please reach out to us (via comment) if you find anything that doesn’t look right in this memoir about the Rio de Janeiro soccer Starlet.
Also, tell us what you think about this impressive memoir we’ve written about the Baller who Blues fans hope would have a good partnership with Conor Gallagher and Carney Chukwuemeka in the Blues midfield.
Asides from the content on Andre Santos’ Biography, we’ve got other great Blues stories that’ll interest you. Have you read the Life History of Denis Zakaria and Noni Madueke?
Thank you for spending your quality time reading our version of Andrey Santos’ Biography.
We care about accuracy and fairness in our daily task of delivering the Life History of Brazilian footballers. Andre Santos’ Bio is part of our wilder collection of South American soccer stories.
