Fabrizio Romano insists there is ‘nothing’ to suggest Antony will leave Manchester United in January but the same cannot be said of Premier League misfit Jadon Sancho.
The potential appointment of Paul Mitchell – or another elite-level director of football – cannot come soon enough at Old Trafford.
Jadon Sancho and Antony, after all, set Manchester United back around £150 million combined and, albeit for very different reasons, do not have a single goal or an assist to their name so far in 2023/24.
Antony’s confidence looks shot. Sancho, meanwhile, is unlikely to ever don that iconic red shirt again, amid his refusal to step back and say sorry after that most public of disputes with Erik ten Hag.
Romano believes Sancho, banished from the first-team picture, is all-but guaranteed to leave in January. Juventus, Chelsea and former employers Borussia Dortmund have all been linked. Rumours suggesting that fellow wideman Antony could follow in his footsteps, however, appear wide of the mark.
Is Antony leaving Manchester United?
“Antony’s situation remains quiet,” Romano tells Caught Offside. “There is nothing with any other club at all. For the moment, there is no plan for Antony and Man United to part ways in January.”
Brazilian reporter Jorge Nicola said similar about the bumbling Brazilian, dismissing those ‘strange’ reports suggesting Antony could join Flamengo on loan as part of the deal that would see Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa head in the other direction.
“That’s not the case with Jadon Sancho, however,” Romano adds. “I would say (Sancho) is looking 99 per cent likely to leave United this January. Still, it will depend on many factors, despite links with Borussia Dortmund, because I think clubs will wait before deciding what to do during the January window.
“Dortmund, for example, will have to see where they are in the Champions League. This is the case for a lot of clubs, so that’s why there are no talks now.”
Jadon Sancho linked with Chelsea
The Athletic have thrown Chelsea’s hat into the ring. Mauricio Pochettino has spoken out about his admiration for the one-time Manchester City starlet at the time, the Argentine trying and failing to sign a teenage Sancho when still at Tottenham Hotspur.
“For Sancho, the situation at Manchester United is complicated, for sure,” Romano concludes. “The only way this could change is if Sancho decides to apologise in a very special way to Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff.
“But it’s almost two months now and nothing has changed. So the feeling of those close to the player is that he will leave Old Trafford in January.”
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