In a recent revelation, it has been disclosed that Manchester United’s scouts initially valued Brazilian winger Antony at a mere £25 million during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s managerial tenure.
However, despite this initial valuation, Antony ended up becoming the club’s second most expensive transfer in August 2022, securing a move from Ajax for a staggering £86 million, trailing only behind Paul Pogba in terms of transfer fees.
Antony’s performance in his first 16 months at Old Trafford has been underwhelming, marked by a lack of form and confidence on the pitch, alongside off-field controversies, including allegations of domestic abuse. The 23-year-old has played 38 Premier League games, scoring only four goals, and has made 24 appearances in domestic and European cup competitions, adding another four goals to his tally. Despite arriving with high expectations, Antony has fallen significantly short of the anticipated impact.
A closer look at Manchester United’s operations, as reported by The Athletic, sheds light on the club’s chaotic and muddled approach to transfer dealings. The spotlight is on the deal that brought Antony to Old Trafford from Ajax, a move initiated during Solskjaer’s tenure. Reports indicate that United’s scouting team had assessed Antony’s potential before the arrival of Erik ten Hag, valuing him at approximately £25 million. This valuation suggested the belief that significant development was needed for Antony to reach the level of a top-tier winger.
However, as negotiations with Ajax unfolded in the summer of 2022, it was privately communicated that a structured deal worth £60 million was the maximum amount the Red Devils were initially willing to pay. Struggling to find common ground and facing a dead end in negotiations, United eventually agreed to pay Ajax £86 million for Antony just before the closure of the summer transfer window.
This hefty fee, with almost £4 million as guaranteed money, left United unable to reinforce their squad in January due to concerns over Financial Fair Play compliance.
Antony’s future at United, despite his struggles, seems secure for now due to the substantial investment made in his acquisition. However, broader changes in the club’s management and decision-making processes are expected to be implemented by INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is set to finalize his 25% investment in the club.
Ratcliffe, a British billionaire with a controlling stake in OGC Nice, plans to reshape the football operations department at Old Trafford as part of the restructuring efforts following his £1.25 billion buy-in.