Rarely has one Manchester United player ever had such an obvious weakness in his game.
Everyone has seen the infamous clip by now.
Up against second-tier Reading in the third round of the FA Cup, Antony squares up a defender, spends about ten seconds jinking to and fro, trips over the ball, and ends up getting dispossed.
While it would be unfair to say this rather sums up the Brazil international’s Manchester United career – he’s certainly had his moments – it could yet become the defining image of Antony’s ill-fated stint at Old Trafford.
Heading into the 2024/25 campaign, there is a very real argument to suggest that the £82 million signing from Ajax is now Man United’s fourth-choice right winger.
That is, presuming Alejandro Garnacho finds himself going head-to-head with Amad Diallo following the Ivorian’s ‘explosive’ pre-season form. And presuming Jadon Sancho stays, amid reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
While his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag felt that some unseemly off-field issues played a part – per The Guardian – the fact remains that Antony produced one goal and one assist in 29 Premier League appearances last season.
Barely good enough for an £8.2 million forward, yet alone an £82 million one.
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Antony fighting for his Manchester United future
Former Chelsea, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino, however, is one of few pundits willing to cut Antony some slack.
That winner against Barcelona, that right-footed beauty against Liverpool, that Robben-esque curler against Real Betis, his trivela assist vs Chelsea; the much-maligned 24-year-old certainly has ability.
But Cascarino feels that, if he is to break from his ‘fidget-spinner’ moniker, Antony would benefit from simplifying his game and focus on doing the basics well.
“It was a really difficult season for him last year,” Cascarino tells talkSPORT (10 August, 7.50am). “He had that awful habit of just one too many either stepovers, cuts inside one way, then goes the other.
“If you are a centre-forward or a player who is a midfielder driving forward and the ball doesn’t come in and you have made a run, you end up getting frustrated. And I think he frustrated a lot of other Man United players in that team.
“I think if he can learn and do things earlier and play with a bit more purpose, there is a talent in there, without a doubt. You can see that.
“There is a talent.”
Perhaps the arrival of Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich will help to unlock that potential.
Mazraoui and Antony struck up a wonderful partnership down the Ajax right under Ten Hag, with the former now expected to join the latter at Old Trafford once Aaron Wan-Bissaka seals his departure to West Ham.
£82 million man makes promise to Red Devils fans
One thing you cannot question, at least, is his desire to prove those doubters wrong.
“I have a lot of objectives. Rest assured, you’ll hear the name Antony in relation to goals and assists,” the winger promises in quotes reported by the Daily Mail and The Athletic. “I’m someone who demands a lot of myself and I was obviously not satisfied with my season.
“It’s there written on paper in my objectives; more work on the right foot, score more goals and (provide more) assists. I’ll show you these notes one day and you’ll see the results this season.
“There’s a lot of things I note down in detail. How many shots I should be making in a game, I can’t lose the ball, I need to score goals and create assists, pass and dribble completions, as well as defensive performance.
“I have a lot of objectives. I’m always reflecting.”
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