'Sir Alex Ferguson would NEVER have signed Antony'

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 9 May 2023 13:31 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham believes Sir Alex Ferguson would not have signed Brazilian winger Antony if he was still in charge at Old Trafford.

Sheringham was part of Man Utd's treble-winning team under Ferguson's reign in 1999 after he arrived at the club from Tottenham Hostpur two years prior.

The former Red Devils forward has admitted that his former boss wouldn't have liked Antony due to his style of play.

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The Brazilian has cut a divisive figure since arriving from Ajax for €95 million last summer, with the Brazilian earning plaudits for several bright moments, but facing heavy criticism throughout.

Much of the malaise surrounding Antony stems from his showboating style, which has seen him anger opposition players, fans and pundits alike.

For that reason, Sheringham doesn't think Ferguson would've been a fan of the 23-year-old from Sao Paulo.

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What has Sheringham said?

Sheringham told Lord Ping: "I’d be interested in hearing what Fergie [Sir Alex Ferguson] thinks of Antony. Whenever we played against wingers like that, Fergie would call them a 'little fizz-pop', because he is a winger that whizzes around, can disappear for long periods of games and can do needless tricks, but is also capable of scoring a wonder goal every now and again.

"He’s not really a Fergie player – Fergie liked his wingers to be more consistent than Antony has been.

"I know that he has scored some great goals; some important goals, and he is obviously a talented boy. I think he needs to learn a little bit more about the Premier League a little bit like [Cristiano] Ronaldo when he first joined the club."

Antony has netted eight goals and provided two assists in 41 appearances for Man Utd this campaign after following Erik ten Hag from Ajax to Old Trafford. He was one of two Ajax players to join Man Utd last summer, along with defender Lisandro Martinez.