Ten Hag learning from Antony transfer mistake at Man Utd

Suraj Radia

• 17 Sept 2024 17:00 BST
• 4 min read

It has been two years since Erik ten Hag splashed the cash to bring Antony to Manchester United but the forward has already gone from the club’s second-biggest signing to out of the first team in a dramatic fall from grace.

Even upon his arrival, the €95 million outlay on Antony felt like an unnecessary gamble on a player who had hardly set the world alight in the Eredivisie, scoring 18 goals in 57 games.

But, such was the desire to back Ten Hag, that United put their faith in reuniting the Dutchman with his former Ajax winger even at a disastrously overvalued pricetag.

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Two years on, it is fair to say Ten Hag’s gamble has failed, particularly with comments from the United boss this week that suggested Antony was a long way from forcing his way back into the first team.

With only eight goal contributions in 54 games, Antony appears to have lost his starting role to Amad Diallo, with the Brazilian seeing just one minute of Premier League football in United’s opening four games.

However, while Ten Hag cannot hide from such a poor transfer, the ruthlessness with a favourite player of his should give some confidence that the priority remains getting the best out of the team, rather than trying to make a success of his marquee transfer.

Antony must 'earn the right' to get back in Ten Hag's good books

Antony already saw his minutes drastically reduce in his second season compared to his first, making just 15 starts in the league last season compared to 23 in his debut year.

His output also decreased and he was hit with allegations of domestic violence in Brazil, further creating tension and uncertainty around his time at Old Trafford.

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The emergence of Diallo has also showcased what United were missing down their right flank, with the 22-year-old already providing half of Antony’s total goal contributions in just six Premier League starts.

Antony will likely get his chance for first team action in United’s Carabao Cup tie against Barnsley this week, although Ten Hag warned that it would take a good attitude and performance in training to ‘earn the right to play’.

That is a mentality that Ten Hag has been consistent with throughout his entire tenure at United, with Jadon Sancho and even Cristiano Ronaldo unable to survive his wrath.

Perhaps Antony may never live up to his absurd price tag but the onus is on the 24-year-old to rescue his United career and prove his doubters wrong, including Ten Hag, who will be happy to continue building his squad with or without his former favourite.