Ten Hag issues support for 'unstoppable' Antony despite transfer-listed status

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 27 Feb 2024 15:51 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has backed Antony to re-discover his best form, despite the fact the Brazilian has reportedly been transfer-listed ahead of the summer window.

Antony, 24, joined the Red Devils from Ajax for €95 million in 2022 and he has endured a torrid time on the pitch since making the move to Old Trafford.

Although his first season wasn’t the best, Antony at least showed glimpses of his talent. This year, however, has been a disaster.

The Brazil international is yet to score or assist in the 2023-24 Premier League campaign and he has plummeted down the pecking order at Man Utd, despite the fact Ten Hag was the driving force behind his move from Ajax.

Although Rasmus Hojlund was unavailable to face Fulham on Saturday due to injury, Antony was still named on the Red Devils bench, with Ten Hag rewarding academy graduate Omari Forson with a start on the right wing instead.

Fellow youngster Amad Diallo was also brought onto the pitch before Antony, with the ex-Ajax man only turned to in the final minute of stoppage time.

The €95m flop hasn’t started a Premier League game in 2024, while he has only amassed 23 minutes of action in Man Utd’s past six league matches combined.

He is drastically out of favour at Old Trafford and the Manchester Evening News recently reported that Man Utd are ready to listen to offers for Antony this summer as they look to cut their losses on the Brazilian.

Remarkably, Antony’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has plummeted by €39.6m in the past 12 months, with his current ETV standing at a mere €36.4m.

Erik ten Hag defends Antony

Despite barely playing Antony in 2024, Man Utd head coach Ten Hag has backed the Brazilian to re-find his form soon.

Ahead of the Red Devils’ FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, the Dutchman said: “With Antony, I backed him for a long time. I know his abilities, great abilities, I know from the past he is unstoppable, no defender can stop him because he's one of the quickest in the first 10 yards.

“When he plays that game I'm sure he will perform. He's resilient, he's a character and he will fight back. I back him and he now has to wait for his chance and, once he is there, he has to pick up.”

Although Ten Hag says he still has faith in Antony, the Brazilian’s lack of involvement in recent weeks suggests otherwise, and it may be time for Man Utd to cut their losses.

However, Antony’s form means that very few clubs in Europe will want to sign him, while his high wages and Man Utd’s likely asking price reduces the list of potential new clubs down to almost zero.

As a result, Man Utd find themselves with a massive problem and it may not disappear anytime soon.