Antony to leave Man Utd: Ajax insider rates return chances

Imre Himmelbauer

• Updated: 14 Oct 2024 17:44 BST
• 4 min read

Dutch journalist Mike Verweij thinks it would be a good idea if Ajax brought Antony back.

The attacker is at a dead end at Manchester United and has been linked with a return to Amsterdam. Newcastle United and Crystal Palace have also been associated with the Brazilian, though FootballTransfers understands that the latter have no interest in him.

Antony was signed for €95 million from Ajax two years ago, but his time at Old Trafford has been nothing short of a disaster.

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"It is clear that Ajax are looking for a left winger, a creative midfielder and possibly a right winger," De Telegraaf journalist Vermeij begins on the podcast Kick-off.

"But the impression is given that Ajax can do a lot now. That is simply not the case. It will either have to be on loan or a very cheap player."

Antony return: difficult but not impossible

Getting Antony back will therefore be difficult, but a loan deal is probably possible, Verweij speculates. "If you can loan Antony cheaply...His salary is probably already quite high for Ajax, but perhaps United want to get rid of him and loan him to Ajax for a song.

"Also because Erik ten Hag was just the manager of Ajax. Then that could be an option. Antony has shown in the Eredivisie that he can handle it. Perhaps he can build up some confidence here again because in the Eredivisie you quickly overtake your opponents as a winger. I wouldn't even think it was a crazy option."

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However, his colleague Valentijn Driessen is less enthusiastic. "Normally you shouldn't do it," the Dutch outlet's football chief thinks. "But of course, this boy has meant a lot to Ajax. He has ensured that the coffers have been filled with €100m.

"Then you can perhaps put your hand over your heart and say: 'If we can pull your career out of the doldrums, we will help you.' Of course, they did that with Davy Klaassen too. He is important. I would also say in advance that it was the end of the story. But in the Dutch competition, those kinds of players can still come along and make a difference."

Antony grew into a key player in his two seasons at Ajax and notched 24 goals and 22 assists in 82 matches. At Man Utd, the 16-time Brazil international only has 12 goals and five assists in 86 matches to his name.