Manchester United summer signing Antony has opened up about his humble upbringings in Brazil, revealing that he ‘didn’t have boots to play football’ as a child.
The 22-year-old secured his dream move to Old Trafford on deadline day for £82million this summer, having previously spent two seasons at Ajax under new Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag.
But Antony has admitted that life as a youngster was extremely challenging for him and his family, living in a poverty-stricken favela in Brazil.
Manchester United star Antony has lifted the lid on his ‘humble’ upbringings in Brazil as a child
‘I was just a humble little boy from a favela,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘I didn’t have boots to play football.
‘I didn’t have a bedroom, I slept on the sofa.
‘I lived in the very middle of the favela. Twenty yards from my house there were drug dealers. Sometimes you would be watching a game on a Sunday and there would be that smell, a smell of cannabis coming into the house.
The winger said: ‘I was just a humble little boy from a favela. I didn’t have boots to play football’
‘There were moments, my brother, my sister and I would cry and hug each other thinking about our lives.
‘There were times in the middle of the night, we were bailing water out of our flooded house, but we’d still do it with a smile on our faces.’
Antony kickstarted his Manchester United career with a debut goal against Arsenal last week, as Ten Hag picked up his fourth successive Premier League victory to climb his side to fifth in the division.
Antony had ‘goosebumps’ after he scored his debut goal against Arsenal to help United win 3-1
The Brazilian international admitted that the goal-scoring moment gave him ‘goosebumps’ as he charged towards the Old Trafford fans in celebration.
He added: ‘When I saw the net bulge and the fans on their feet cheering, it was very emotional. I had goosebumps.
‘That goal was for my family and the fans.’