A transfer saga at the end of the 2022 summer window saw Brazil forward Antony push to secure a move away from Ajax to Manchester United.
Antony became the club’s second most expensive signing of all time, behind only Paul Pogba, with Ajax taking advantage of Manchester United’s desperation to do the deal.
For a brief period at the start of his Manchester United career, nobody mentioned the fee. This stretch saw Antony score in his first three Premier League games for the club, against Arsenal, Everton, and Manchester City.
This season it has been tougher, reaching the midway point, Antony has not managed a single goal or assist and the criticism has been severe.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag levels the player’s struggle for form down to the unproven accusations against him in his personal life, which saw him miss a month of action.
Ten Hag told a press conference earlier this month, via Sky Sports: “I think it’s very simple. I think his off-field issues stop him playing. I think first year was OK and I think in the pre-season he was very OK. First four games were very good.”
Antony will come back different in second half of the season
United In Focus spoke to Antony’s agent Junior Pedroso about the Manchester United winger, with Vamo Palmeiras‘ Rogerio Amaral providing translation.
There has been speculation on Antony’s future over the past few days, with The Evening Standard claiming Manchester United could try to sell him to a Saudi Pro League club in the summer. This was later refuted by Fabrizio Romano.
When it comes to Antony’s future, it is clear the winger’s full focus is on Manchester United. And as far as the club is concerned, the feeling is mutual, the player’s representatives insist.
Pedroso explains: “Manchester has so far not communicated any interest in transferring him in either the January or summer window.”
Antony is also fully aware of the scrutiny on his lack of production in the final third and is absolutely determined to improve his output.
His agent added: “Antony is focused on these four months of the season so he can improve his performance, knowing that he needs to score goals and assists. This is his focus. Today our head is on Manchester United.
“He knows very well that he needs to score, there’s no point in just playing good games, he has to score goals and provide assists. He is very coherent about this. He will come back different, his head has become a little key and certainly in these four months he will show much more than he showed this season.”
How Antony aims to turn his form around
Antony has been taking steps behind the scenes which he hopes will end up paying dividends on the pitch, adopting an ultra-professional approach, after the disruption to his season earlier this year.
His agent explained: “What Antony did was a radical change in everything involving his professional behavior. He has a very serious recovery routine at home.
“He equipped his house so he could have faster, more significant muscle recovery. Considering that he had his first contact with the Premier League last season, it is a league that really demands a lot from the physical side.
“He improved his diet, based on a process prescribed by a nutritionist. So he’s eating much better, he’s sleeping better, he’s sleeping earlier.
“His family environment has improved a lot at home with his wife and son, so he has a much better family relationship today, with his wife and son. He has made it a routine at home, whenever possible, having lunch at home, having breakfast, having family routines that sometimes you only realise after the things that make you realise it.”
After spending time out of the country during the winter break, Antony is now back in Manchester, preparing for the resumption of the season, with Manchester United facing Newport County on Sunday in the FA Cup and then Wolves in the Premier League next Thursday.
Thankful for Erik ten Hag’s backing
With Antony looking to make a fresh start, he is pleased to have the support of his manager, with Ten Hag keen to provide a reminder of the context behind his difficult start to the campaign.
Antony is thankful for this, with his agent commenting: “We had Erik speaking in his favour, that Antony comes from a major trauma, he suffered a lot with everything that happened, but it was important for his maturity and that helped him in this evolutionary process.”
One of Antony’s first tasks is to win back his starting place. In recent weeks Alejandro Garnacho has shifted out to the right, forming a promising front three with Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund.
Against Tottenham, he played only two minutes, and has not been selected for the full 90 since Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Chelsea back on December 6, with his last start on December 23 in the defeat to West Ham.
When a chance comes his way, he will need to take it, and the biggest way to do so is scoring goals.
Antony recognises this is an area he must improve, and like with Rasmus Hojlund, when the first one goes in, some of the pressure he feels, will begin to subside.
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