Antony was not part of Ajax’s matchday squad against Sparta Rotterdam after missing two days of training leading up to the game.
The Times reports Antony is top of Manchester United’s transfer wishlist and he is pushing to try and secure a move. United have had two bids rejected for Antony so far.
Ajax won their game 1-0 with Steven Bergwijn scoring the winner. But it was the topic of Antony which dominated the pre and post match discussion.
Bergwijn and Dusan Tadic both commented on the speculation linking Antony with a move to the Red Devils.
READ MORE: Confirmed Manchester United transfers, ins, outs, loans, releases for 2022/23
Antony to Manchester United
Former Tottenham winger Bergwijn was asked if he had been providing Antony with any tips with his English.
Bergwijn told ESPN: “No, actually not. He doesn’t speak English very well, so that’s going to be difficult.”
Quoted by NOS, Bergwijn said he did understand if Antony chose to leave to join Manchester United.
He said: “I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but everyone has dreams. If it continues, I wish him the best. I’d be sad if he left, but everyone has dreams.”
Bergwijn has left the Netherlands once to pursue a career in the Premier League, and so he will understand Antony’s motivation for wanting to leave and test himself.
Another Ajax teammate who featured in England’s top flight was former Southampton attacker Dusan Tadic.
Tadic told Voetbal International: “He’s a great player, we know that. We miss him and have to wait and see what will happen.
“I spoke to him, yes. You always try to talk to players. He is 22 years old, a grown man. He knows what to do. You can always say what you want, but he makes a decision with the club.”
Tadic also accepted Ajax are a weaker team without Antony in the side.
He said: “You know what kind of player Antony is. He is a very dynamic dribbler. But without him you have a different dynamic. We have good players, but it’s a little different. Antony is a great player who can play in any competition.”
The Times reported a month ago that Antony was ‘determined’ to join Manchester United. Now after a spell of patience, we are into the endgame of the transfer window, and both player and the Red Devils are pushing to make it happen.
Now it is up to United and Ajax to get on the same page and agree a fee – but the clubs haven’t seen eye to eye on valuations all summer, and there will have to be compromise somewhere.
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