Manchester United have a chance to dispose of Antony, who is considered the worst recruit.
It is news that Cristiano Ronaldo, who is also a legendary Manchester United striker, is targeting Antony by Saudi Arabia’s Alnasr, who is currently active.
British media “Football Insider” said on the 6th (Korea time) that “Manchester United winger Antony has emerged as the main target of Saudi Arabian club Alnasr,” adding that Alnasr put Antony at the top of the recruitment list.
The media said, “Alnasr, who has a lot of money, approached to recruit Barcelona winger Hafinha but turned to Antony after failing to reach an agreement. Alnasr wants to recruit Antony this summer and has expressed interest in recruiting Antony ahead of the transfer market deadline.”
“Manchester United plans to sell Antony, who paid a transfer fee of 82 million pounds (about 143.3 billion won) from Ajax in 2022, but has not been able to match the transfer fee,” he said, explaining that Manchester United is also open to selling Antony.
Antony left Ajax to join Manchester United during the summer 2022 transfer window. Antony, who made a name for himself in the Dutch Eredivisie with his unique skill, sense, and sharp left-footed kick, entered the big leagues for the first time in his career at the behest of his former coach Erik ten Hag.
However, since coming to Manchester United, Antony has been reduced to a player whose weaknesses are highlighted rather than his strengths. Antony’s weakness since he played in the Dutch league was his small physical condition, which maintained his height in 170 and weight in 60s, but Antony, who was weak in the Premier League, was more competitive than the Dutch league and was more tight in check by defenders, could not easily use his strength.
Also, when he led the game overall at Ajax, but failed to do so at Manchester United, Antony’s ability to utilize space and kicks was also difficult to demonstrate. In the end, Antony was sluggish throughout the 2022-23 season, finishing his first season in the PL with Manchester United.
Last season was Antony’s second year under Ten Hag, which was expected to change for Antony, but not for him. Despite Antony’s continued slump, Ten Hag trusted Antony and frequently used him as a starter, which rather made him a more reviled choice.
Antony had four goals and two assists in 25 games in the 2022-23 season, and last season he had his worst season, scoring one goal and one assist in 29 league games. However, because Antony was not very influential in the game, Manchester United fans shouted that Antony should be sent out as soon as possible and another player should be recruited.
However, Manchester United could not easily sell Antony. As explained in “Football Insider,” the transfer fee that Manchester United paid to Ajax when it recruited Antony was a whopping 82 million pounds. If Manchester United wanted to send Antony out, it would have been impossible to send him to a lower-class team than Manchester United unless Antony cut his weekly salary.
In the end, Saudi Arabia’s Alnasr, who has more money than most big clubs in Europe, showed interest in Antony at the moment when he thought of continuing his companionship with Antony until the end of the contract period as well as next season. Manchester United will lose money even if it sells Antony to Alnasr, but first of all, it intends to save at least the weekly wage spent on Antony.
“Football Insider” said, “Manchester United suggested Antony find a new club last month, and there is a possibility that the deal will be made,” adding, “Manchester United also intends to allow Antony to be sent on loan during this season if Antony’s weekly salary of 100,000 pounds (about 174 million won).”
The media also said, “Antoni’s contract period is until 2027, but coach Ten Hach is willing to allow Antoni to leave the team during this summer’s transfer market,” adding that even coach Ten Hach, who recruited Antony, has the idea of letting him go.
After watching Antony for two seasons, Alnasr approached him as he decided that he should sell Antony if he had the opportunity. It is a Saudi Arabian club that has ruthlessly shaken the European transfer market with huge funds since last summer, but now Manchester United deserves to feel grateful for Alnasr.
Currently, Alnasr has a number of players who have been outstanding in Europe including Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Seco Fofana, Alex Tellis, Otavio, Aymeric Laport and Marcello Brozovic. Some are still in their prime, but they have accepted Alnasr’s offer to make money. 메이저사이트
Al-Nasr plans to have a number of European star players but also recruit other players. It is a time when we can feel Saudi Arabia’s enormous financial power once again.
For Manchester United, Alnasr’s interest is a huge opportunity. Manchester United can take this opportunity to sell Antony, who is virtually a malicious inventory, raise a transfer fee, or reinvest in other places that have room for weekly wages. The best scenario Manchester United thought could be achieved.
“Football Insider” also said, “Manchester United’s money from the sale of Antony could be reinvested in adding other offensive options ahead of the new season. We have said that Manchester United is thinking of bidding for a transfer fee of 50 million pounds (about 87.4 billion won) to Brentford’s Ivan Toney,” adding that Manchester United could use the money it earned from sending Antony out to recruit strikers.