Manchester United are once again in the hunt for a new manager mid-season, casting uncertainty over Antony’s future at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag, who championed the 24 year old’s move from Ajax, shared two successful years with the winger, during which he netted 22 goals and provided 20 assists in 79 games, contributing to two Eredivisie titles and a Dutch Cup victory.
This prompted United to fork out £85.5m to bring Antony to England. However, the dream quickly turned sour as the pressure of the hefty transfer fee and the rigours of English football took their toll on Antony.
Despite making 87 appearances for United – eight more than at Ajax – his goal tally has dwindled to 12, with just five assists. His underwhelming performance has been a significant factor in the declining faith in Ten Hag, leading to the coach’s dismissal.
With no experience under another European manager, Antony’s future is uncertain. One option could be to sell him, although finding a buyer may not be straightforward, reports the Manchester Evening News.
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The Sun has reported that regardless of who takes the helm at Old Trafford this week, the club’s decision-makers are set to splash the cash in January. Whether this plan comes to fruition remains to be seen, but it would mean accepting a significant loss compared to the fee paid to Ajax in 2022.
This could pave the way for Ruben Amorim – who is tipped to take over at United – to work with the Brazilian player.
A fresh voice might be just what’s needed, as it’s not unusual for players to struggle under one coach and then flourish under another – Marcus Rashford’s transformation under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a prime example, and the same could happen under Ten Hag.
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The challenge will be ensuring Antony maintains his performance levels if he hits a peak. What works in the player’s favour is that he fits the profile of winger that Amorim would look to utilise in his 3-4-3 system – a left-footer on the right wing.
The 39-year-old transformed Tottenham reject Marcus Edwards into one of Europe’s most confident wingers at Sporting CP, and could do the same with Antony at Man United. Amorim might recall September 2021, when Ten Hag’s Ajax thrashed his team in an empty stadium during the Champions League.
That day, the Antony that Man United thought they were signing was on show, bagging two assists while a deflected shot off the post set up another goal.
A significant amount of time has elapsed since then, but Amorim will be aware that the finest coaches can shape even the most unconfident players into crucial assets. He might want to give it a shot, and hopefully, it would yield positive results. If not, there’s always the initial option to revert to.