Antony might have Manchester United lifeline after 'annoyed' comment

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The majority of fans believe Manchester United should cut their losses on Antony. The winger's time in Manchester since he signed from Ajax in a deal worth £86million has been disastrous and he looks destined to be remembered as one of the worst signings in the club's history.

“Antony is one of the most exciting young talents in European football and has exactly the right profile for the attacking, dynamic team that Erik ten Hag is building," said former football director John Murtough when he was signed. That statement is 25 months old but hasn't aged well.

It might have been worth double checking Antony's passport to check if he's Brazilian. He doesn't have the flair, creativity or quality that is associated with South America's greatest footballing exports, although the 'Anturny' did cause quite a stir in his first few months at the club. The 'Anturny' skill move wouldn't have been a talking point if he had enjoyed a brilliant first season but he contributed just four goals and two assists in the Premier League.

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Although Antony scored in his first three league appearances against Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton, which is remarkable with the benefit of hindsight, he didn't score in the top flight again for six months and it didn't take long for many to conclude he wasn't good enough for United.

But you should always give players the benefit of the doubt and a season to settle. Antony needed to grab the bull by the horns in his second year at Old Trafford and silence the growing doubters but he actually regressed, producing just one goal and one assist in the league.

"I definitely need more goal participations and to score more goals," he told a handful of journalists in a Beverly Hills hotel while on pre-season tour in August. "It's something I demand from myself. Rest assured, you'll hear the name Antony in relation to goals and assists.

"A lot happened last season. I played full back and was a little uneasy about it but that was because with the team losing or drawing you want to be in the attack to turn things around and help the team, so being moved into defence bothered me a bit, you feel annoyed in the moment during the game, but afterwards it's all fine."

The 24-year-old also vowed he would score more goals with his right foot and told reporters he would show them "his notes one day." Antony does not lack self belief - he wouldn't be at United without it - but he's failed to back up his words on the pitch, which is how he's judged.

(Image: Photo by YAGIZ GURTUG/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Antony has started one game this season, against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup when he converted a penalty against League One opposition. He has been given just over 150 minutes in all competitions.

Ten Hag's decision to overlook Amad for Antony when he made a substitution against Fenerbahce in the Europa League was surprising, but he explained he works hard in training. To Antony's credit, he looked bright when coming on but picked up an injury and had to be stretchered off.

Unfortunately for Antony, not much has gone right for him during his time in Manchester - he has dealt with issues away from the pitch - and he's in the last chance saloon at United.

The appointment of Ruben Amorim offers a clean slate but Antony must be sold in the summer window if he's unable to improve between now until the end of the season.

What could spark that improvement? Perhaps he could play as a wing-back. It was fascinating to read him say playing at full-back initially "annoyed" him last season, because adapting and playing in that role in Amorim's system might be the only way to save his United career.

Antony has transferable skills that could make him an effective wing-back but playing him there would be a desperate roll of the dice, with the hope of unlocking some improvement. Whether a position change would work remains to be seen. Antony's time might already be up.

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