Antony could have plenty of reason to feel positive about his Man United future (Image: Getty)
Antony might’ve been signed by Erik ten Hag, but it’s Ruben Amorim who could prove the Brazilian’s saviour.
The ex-Ajax ace will certainly be hoping so. Antony’s two-and-a-bit years at Old Trafford have been nothing short of a disaster so far.
A steady first season at the club returned 15 goals and assists across all competitions, but with increased expectations and United’s return to the Champions League, Antony failed to deliver during his second campaign as a Red Devil.
The man who joined for over £80million in the summer of 2022 registered just one Premier League goal throughout the 2023/24 season, finishing the term with a combined total of five G/A contributions.
Such was the disappointment surrounding his second season, that there was talk he could be moved on during the summer transfer window, with United forced to take a heavy loss on the transfer.
That obviously didn’t transpire, with Antony sticking around at Old Trafford, but his start to the 2024/25 campaign has been just as underwhelming.
Heading into the middle third of the season, Antony has managed just five appearances, of which just one came as a starter for Ten Hag.
A fresh start might just do him some good and if early signs from the United training ground are anything to go by, his wish might be Amorim’s command.
Ruben Amorim has got down to business at Man Utd ahead of his first match in charge vs Ipswich (Image: Getty)
As seen on a video shared by United’s official social media accounts, Antony appeared to be training in the right-wing back position during one of Amorim’s first sessions at Carrington.
An unconventional spot for the 24-year-old, given all of his appearances for United so far have come exclusively as a forward.
It’s unknown whether Antony is being used as a placeholder at right-wing back during training sessions, given both senior right-backs, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are away on national team duty.
Or if Amorim genuinely sees Antony reinventing himself in the Portuguese coach’s three-at-the-back system.
United fans won’t have long to wait though, with Amorim’s first game in charge now less than a week away.
It’s a meeting with another familiar United face for the record English champions, as they travel to play Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town in the late Sunday game.
After that, it’s back-to-back outings at Old Trafford for Amorim and United, who first face Bodo/Glimt in the midweek Europa League action, before welcoming Everton in the Premier League at the weekend.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1977972/antony-ruben-amorim-man-utd