Man Utd ‘open door’ for shock departure as £86m man could ‘find a new destination in Premier League’
Reports suggest that Manchester United is contemplating the possibility of selling Antony, a player they acquired from Ajax for approximately £86m just a year ago. Antony, a Brazilian footballer, was a significant target for United during the previous summer transfer window.
Erik ten Hag, who departed from Ajax to join Man Utd this season, expressed a strong desire to bring Antony along with him.
United relentlessly pursued the winger throughout the summer, and his transfer to Old Trafford was finalized on the last day of the transfer window for a fee of £86m, with additional payments based on performance.
Although Antony has shown glimpses of his potential this season, he has struggled to consistently perform at his best. In a total of 42 appearances for United across various competitions, he has managed to score eight goals and provide three assists.
A Spanish outlet, Fichajes, has strongly criticized him, labeling him as ‘one of the major letdowns of the season’ at Manchester United.
According to the report, it is stated that United has supposedly made the decision to allow Antony to leave, and they are actively searching for a suitable destination for him in the upcoming transfer window.
The report does not mention any specific clubs as potential destinations for Antony, but it suggests that it remains uncertain whether he would secure a new team within the Premier League or embark on a new sporting journey in another prominent European league.
It is important to approach this report with skepticism, but it does highlight the challenging nature of recouping the substantial investment made to acquire Antony last summer, implying that it would be extremely difficult to recover the initial financial outlay.
In anticipation of Antony’s second full season at Manchester United, club legend Andy Cole believes that there is still uncertainty surrounding the player’s performance and potential. Cole suggests that the verdict on Antony’s abilities and impact at the club is yet to be determined.
“I think Garnacho’s got a fantastic future ahead of him if he can keep his head down, I think he’s going to have a big future,” Cole told William Hill.
“Everyone is talking about him because he’s very direct, he’s not afraid to get the ball and take players on and in today’s game you don’t see as much of that. A lot of young kids come into the team and just do what they’re good at. The manager has tried to blood him in slowly, but I think next season will be a really big season for him.
“I think the jury is still out on Antony. He cost a hell of a lot of money and we’ve only seen him do well in flashes, but as you know flashes are not enough in the Premier League.
“It’s only his first season so I think next season will be his biggest season. If he can produce then it will be a totally different conversation. This season he’s been in and out, I think some of the things that he tries on the pitch you turn and say to yourself ‘I’m not sure about this’.”
Man Utd ‘open door’ for shock departure as £86m man could ‘find a new destination in Premier League’
