Man Utd told of possible Antony replacement

Tom Weber

• Updated: 26 Apr 2023 17:11 BST
• 3 min read

Summer arrival Antony has struggled to have the desired impact at Manchester United, and there may be better alternatives out there.

The 23-year-old arrived at Old Trafford in August 2022 in an eyebrow-raising €95 million deal that left many observers scratching their heads. The Brazilian had done well for Ajax in the Eredivisie, but even while playing for such a behemoth in a league they are expected to win every season, the right-winger already exhibited some obvious flaws.

Too reliant on his left foot, one-dimensional with the ball at his feet and boasting a slight build, many felt United had overspent in their bid to reunite Antony with Erik ten Hag. Those worries, it must be said, appear to have been justified.

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In 37 outings for Manchester United across all competitions this term, he has racked up just eight goals and two assists - that is as many assists as he managed in two Eredivisie matches at the start of the season before his switch.

With the Red Devils set to become more ruthless in the transfer market under Ten Hag, they may be looking to bring in another, more productive winger - and one of the potential options could be a former player of the Dutchman.

David Neres at United?

In an interview with A BOLA, former Brazil midfielder Valdo, who won two league titles with Benfica, waxed lyrical about current Eagles star David Neres and likened him to Antony, prompting some to believe that he could be an ideal replacement for his compatriot.

"He is different from all the others, really capable of unbalancing [opponents] from one moment to another and he played a great game again [against Estoril]," the manager of the Congo national team said.

Neres, who has 12 goals and 13 assists in 43 games this term, is special, according to Valdo: "He is a player full of talent, a virtuoso, like Manchester United's Antony, who needs to play many times. He is one of those players that any coach likes to have on the squad."

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The 26-year-old was part of Erik ten Hag's successful Ajax squad before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2022. "Whether he [the coach]," Valdo added, "chooses to leave Neres out, or the times he comes in, he knows that Neres can bring something different, and [he] not only maintains the level but raises it." Could he raise United's level too?