Manchester United confirm, agree £80m deal for Ajax winger, Antony

With Ajax, Manchester United has reached an agreement to acquire Brazilian winger Antony. Within the next 48 hours, the 22-year-old is expected to travel to Manchester to get a medical.

Harry Maguire and Antony would tie for the second-most expensive signing at Manchester United, behind Paul Pogba’s £89 million price tag, which still stands as the club record.

Antony, who joined the Dutch team from Sao Paulo in 2020 and played for current United manager Erik ten Hag, scored 25 goals and contributed 22 assists in 82 appearances for Ajax.

In his nine matches since making his Brazil debut in October 2021, he has scored twice.

The joint-fourth most expensive signing in Premier League history was Antony, who assisted on seven goals in his 11 Champions League outings for Ajax.

The only transfers that would be more expensive are Pogba’s to United, Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea, and Jack Grealish to Manchester City.

On Thursday, September 1, United’s next Premier League game is against Leicester City, but Antony would first need to obtain a work visa.

After the arrivals of his old Ajax teammate, defender Lisandro Martinez, midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid, full-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord, and playmaker Christian Eriksen on a free transfer, the attacker would become United’s fifth signing of the summer.

There is still speculation over Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at the club due to worries that the 37-year-attitude old’s is depleting team spirit.

Erik ten Hag has been looking to make a statement all summer, and the price shows how eager United was to please their new manager before Thursday’s deadline expired.

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Antony, who prefers to use his left foot, likes to enter from the right side. He moves with amazing speed, has the capacity to forge opportunities out of thin air, and is a tireless worker.

He resembles the United players who currently play the wide positions in many ways.

But it is obvious that Ten Hag seeks more profundity and excellence. He has already realized that the players he inherited were inadequate as a whole.

The key question is whether Antony’s coming will bring about a shift in the status quo, endanger someone’s position, or both.

As usual, discussion will center on Ronaldo and how he fits into a team that is even faster than before.