A former Manchester United first-team player has now opened up about his important dynamic with ex-Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag will now serve as the technical director of Eredivisie side Twente for the 2026-27 campaign after his last managerial setback at Bayer Leverkusen.
The 56-year-old former Manchester United manager returned to management in 2025 with Bayer Leverkusen, only for Erik ten Hag to be sacked months later.
Ten Hag lifted both the League Cup and the FA Cup with United after the former Leverkusen boss first arrived at Old Trafford from Ajax back in 2022.
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Real Betis’ Antony explains his special connection with former Man Utd and Ajax manager Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag was reunited with several former Ajax players during his Old Trafford reign, including Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Antony.
Manchester United agreed a hefty initial fee of £81.3m to bring Antony, who is now at Spanish club Real Betis, to the Premier League from Dutch side Ajax in 2022.
Antony struggled to make a real impact at Old Trafford after his reunion with Ten Hag, who was sacked as Man Utd manager during the 2024-25 campaign.
Speaking to the Podpah podcast, the 26-year-old Brazilian winger admitted that Dutchman Ten Hag had been keen to push for his arrival at Man Utd.
“I went to Manchester United because of Erik ten Hag, who kept sending me messages saying he wanted me there,” he said.
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Antony on the difference of playing in England with Man Utd vs competing in Spain with Real Betis
Antony, who lifted the FA Cup and the League Cup under Ten Hag, only netted 12 times and registered five assists in 96 matches across all competitions for Man Utd.
The former Ajax star left Old Trafford in the 2024-25 campaign on loan to Real Betis before he made the move permanent to the La Liga club in 2025.
Speaking on the differences of playing in England and Spain, Antony said: “The press in England is a bit ‘heavy’; there were times when I even doubted myself, but my family reminded me that one bad moment doesn’t define my story.
“So, I needed to go to Spain to rediscover myself and be happy. In the Premier League, the intensity is extreme in both attack and defence, but in Spain, there’s more space for one-on-one situations.”
Betis paid Man Utd a £21.65m transfer fee to ensure that Brazil international Antony completed his deadline-day move back to the Spanish club last September.
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