Manchester United winger Antony, currently on loan, has expressed uncertainty regarding his future and emphasized that it is premature to discuss a permanent transfer.
After a lackluster season in England, where he did not manage to score in the Premier League, the Brazilian was loaned to La Liga club Real Betis during the January transfer window. Since joining Betis, Antony has made a notable impact, scoring two goals and providing two assists, earning a nomination for the league’s player of the month award for his February performances.
Antony remarked on his future, stating, “I don’t know [what will happen], it’s too early to talk about that. As you say, I’m always enjoying every day here, I’m very happy, very content, and well, that’s always the way it is,” as reported by Sports Witness.
With Manchester United having scored only 33 goals in the Premier League this season, the club will be closely monitoring Antony’s development before making any decisions regarding the 25-year-old’s future.
Can Antony save his United career?
Since joining the Premier League in the 2022-23 season, Antony has netted only five goals and provided three assists in 62 matches.
Throughout his career, the winger has not been a prolific scorer, having found the net just 29 times across the top leagues in Brazil, the Netherlands, England, and Spain.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that Antony has scored two goals in La Liga with an expected goals (xG) total of 0.7, and few players have demonstrated the ability to consistently exceed their xG figures.
Although Antony is performing well in Spain, it remains uncertain whether he can maintain this level of play, raising questions about his place in the United squad for the upcoming season.
A summer revamp?
Marcus Rashford was loaned to Aston Villa during the January transfer window following a challenging period under manager Ruben Amorim. It would be unexpected for him to mend his relationship with the Red Devils’ coach.
Winger Alejandro Garnacho has been rumored to be leaving Old Trafford due to the club’s precarious financial circumstances, and he may need to be sold in the summer as Amorim seeks to revamp his struggling attack.
The Portuguese manager has previously indicated that Antony has thrived in Spain, attributing his success to the league’s less physical style. Consequently, it is possible that United will pursue more combative forwards in the forthcoming transfer window.
Recently, Jean-Philippe Mateta has been associated with a move to the Red Devils, and it would not be surprising if Amorim aimed to acquire athletically proficient wide players to bolster his attacking options.