Antony backed to succeed at United and become Brazil’s biggest star

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Antony is set to complete his move to Manchester United over the next 24 hours. BBC Sport report a fee of £80.75 million has been agreed which will rise to £84 million.

The fee is a staggering amount for a player who was being touted for half that at the start of the summer.

All eyes will be on how he performs at Old Trafford, and a former high profile figure at Ajax expects him to be a success.

David Endt was the Ajax team coordinator between 1997 and 2013, and he told Voetbal Primeur he believes Antony will rise to the challenge at United.

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Antony backed to succeed at United

Endt said: “Besides being a brilliant engineer who does unpredictable things on the pitch, he’s shown the physical strength to withstand tough football.

“With Manchester United everything is different and everything is more difficult. It will be a great test, also for him. He is undoubtedly a very good player who can add something to Manchester United.”

He also believes the high profile transfer will change Antony’s standing in Brazil and with his national team.

Endt added: “The transfer from Ajax to Manchester United also means for Antony that he will play a leading role in Brazil. You cannot avoid that. He will indeed acquire the status of the great player of the Brazilian team.

“There are other very good players, but that paying so much money makes his status skyrocket. You cannot escape the fact that through the media and public opinion he is a Brazil’s big star.”

Antony will be part of Brazil’s World Cup squad and a strong showing at the tournament will back up the transfer fee United ended up paying.

He will have to show he can stand up to pressure, and his stint in the team which won the gold medal at the Olympics last year will help him out.

Antony is only 22 and has just scratched the surface of his potential. The Premier League is better off for having his trickery and skillful qualities added to it.