When Antony arrived at Manchester United in 2022 with a staggering £86 million price tag, many assumed Erik ten Hag had handpicked him.
After all, they’d just worked together at Ajax, and the Brazilian seemed like a natural fit for Ten Hag’s attacking plans at Old Trafford.
But now, a surprising twist has surfaced—one that flips that entire narrative on its head.
A Transfer Ten Hag Allegedly Tried to Block
According to a bold claim made in the new book Liverpool and the Dutch, the man behind the move may not have been Ten Hag at all.
In fact, the co-founder of the manager’s agency, Kees Vos, writes that both Ten Hag and his camp actually opposed bringing Antony to Manchester.
“Ten Hag and Vos were not in favour of this and wanted to stop the transfer,” Vos reveals in the book.
However, Manchester United reportedly pushed forward anyway—worried that Arsenal might swoop in first.
The club was determined not to lose out to a Premier League rival and ended up shelling out nearly €100 million for Antony.
But ever since then, the decision has haunted Ten Hag’s reputation, especially as Antony struggled to find consistent form in England.
Antony’s Time at United: Big Hype, Modest Return
Antony’s stats don’t lie. Over 96 appearances, he managed just 12 goals and 5 assists—underwhelming numbers for someone who arrived with such promise and such a heavy price tag.
The winger’s style never quite clicked in the Premier League.
His flair and tricks occasionally made highlight reels, but his overall contributions to the team were often questioned.
By the time Ruben Amorim took over at United, Antony had slipped so far down the pecking order that he was sent out on loan to Real Betis.
But strangely enough, that stint in Spain seemed to wake something up in him.
Spain Sparks Life Back Into Antony
In just 26 games with Real Betis, Antony notched 14 goal contributions—nearly matching his entire Manchester United output in a fraction of the time.
The difference? A league that perhaps suits his pace and style better.
Now, with the summer transfer window approaching, United might just be hoping that this recent form has rekindled interest from other clubs.
If they can offload him, even at a loss, it could be a chance to turn the page on what has been one of the club’s more debated signings.
Meulensteen Rips Into Antony and Garnacho
But not everyone believes Antony should be given another chance—least of all Rene Meulensteen, a former right-hand man to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Speaking bluntly to Tipman Tips, Meulensteen said he doesn’t think Antony should ever wear the United shirt again.
“He’s not cut out for the club and not good enough,” he said.
“He’s selfish, and his performances don’t help the team.”
And he didn’t stop there.
Ajax “Doing Cartwheels” Over the Deal?
Meulensteen claims Ajax were absolutely delighted to let Antony go for that massive fee.
“They were doing cartwheels in Amsterdam,” he said.
“That kind of money for a player coming from the Eredivisie? It was stupid business from United.”
He argued that players from leagues like the Dutch Eredivisie often look better than they are because of the slower tempo and weaker competition.
Once they hit the Premier League, reality sets in.
“Antony’s return in England is poor,” he continued.
“He’s probably done better in Spain in half the time. That kind of football is more ideal for him.”
What Happens Now?
With all this swirling around—conflicting reports, poor returns, and now a loan stint that has raised fresh hopes—the big question is what United will do next.
Do they try to recoup whatever they can and cut ties? Or does Antony’s revival in Spain convince someone at the club to give him one more shot?
Either way, the idea that Ten Hag might never have wanted him in the first place certainly changes how we view this saga.
It may have looked like a manager betting on his former player—but now, it’s looking more like a club bet gone wrong.