Unstoppable? €95m Man Utd flop isn't even the best Antony

Tom Weber

• Updated: 1 Mar 2024 16:08 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester United flop Antony is being outshone by a namesake plying his trade across the pond.

The Brazilian on the books at Man Utd is in the midst of a dire campaign. Having already failed to live up to his ridiculous €95 million price tag in his first season at Old Trafford, second-season syndrome has hit the 24-year-old like a ton of bricks.

The only goal contributions he has managed in a competitive game so far this term came in an FA Cup win over fourth-tier Newport County, with Antony yet to record a goal or assist in the Premier League. Domestic abuse allegations earlier in the campaign only further entrenched his status as a disaster signing for the Red Devils.

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This has now led to the new 'ruthless' leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and company reportedly transfer-listing the Brazilian ahead of the summer window. Despite Erik ten Hag's public vote of confidence, calling his former Ajax protégé 'unstoppable,' the Dutchman has been forced to admit defeat and Antony could conceivably depart the club in the summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Will the real Antony please stand up?

Hilariously, Antony has been so bad this term, that he has already been outperformed by a namesake in Major League Soccer despite the new season only just having kicked off.

The Portland Timbers signed a 22-year-old Brazilian left-winger also named Antony for €3.2m from Portuguese side Arouca in August and he scored twice on the opening day of the new MLS season last weekend.

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His first goal against the Colorado Rapids - with former Man City shot-stopper Zack Steffen in goal - was a diving header to double the Timbers' lead before he later made it 3-0 with a brilliant strike.

However, this two-goal performance for Phil Neville's side seems to have very much been an outlier. Throughout his career, Antony has been anything but prolific, having only recorded 11 goals in 77 competitive outings so far. Maybe the name Antony is cursed.