Antony, another who comes from Ajax to United. Photo: REUTERS
Manchester United are betting stronger than ever, and after several seasons in which the team has failed to measure up, Erik ten Hag’s arrival on the bench once again generates excitement in the ‘Red Devils’. But this arrival is not the only one. United have spent more than 235 million euros in this market and are aiming high.
And although the arrival of Casemiro was a market success and the incorporation of Lisandro Martínez is already starting to pay off, there is one name that stands out above all the others: is that of Antony, a Brazilian striker who has just dressed in the colors of Ajax. The 22-year-old player is one step away from signing with United and will do so in exchange for a record share: nothing less than 100 million euros.
Antony made his debut in 2018 with the San Paolo shirt and exploded only a year later. With just 52 games in Brazilian football, he caught the attention of Ajax – they paid 15 million euros – and thus began his first adventure in the ‘Old Continent’. With European football it was love at first sight. As soon as he wore the Ajax shirt he showed his best level of him.
In two seasons in the Eredivisie, Antony played 82 games, scored 24 goals and won three titles: one Dutch Cup and two Dutch Championships. In between, he has earned a place in the Brazilian national team and even added minutes in the last game against Argentina, where despite him having just turned 21. he had no problem crossing paths with Acuña and Lo Celso.
And if the Brazilian isn’t missing something, it’s attitude. On more than one occasion he has been targeted for being too lyrical, but that is also one of the main characteristics of him playing him. In addition, he stands out for his change of pace, his explosiveness and his ability to play both from the center and near the line.
In Manchester arrives at the express request of the TD, who already had Antonio under his command at Ajax and knows better than anyone what he can offer the “Red Devils”. For the Dutch club, supporting Antony was a mission impossible. Today, in exchange for nine figures, becomes the most expensive transfer in the history of the Eredivisie.
For United this is not just another reinforcement, as the Brazilian will also become the second most expensive signing in the club’s history, right behind Paul Pogba, another who is trending these days due to a conflict with the club. brother.
This window will remain in the history as the market in which Manchester United have spent the most money. Now, everything is in the hands of the coach.
His beginnings in football and the key role of his brother
Like many Brazilians, Antony was practically born with the ball glued to his foot. At just four years old, he started in football thanks to his brotherand in an interview with Voetbalshop he said: “I come from a quiet and humble family in São Paulo. My brother taught me a lot from an early age, he took me to play in the youth academies. He helped me and taught me everything. “
“For me he is an example and inspires me. My brother is always by my side and I share this dream with him. Over the years my passion for football has only grown. I have taken my dream of becoming a professional player very seriously. , and now I’m making that dream come true, “said the striker just set foot in Europe.
There he also talked in depth about his beginnings in federated football. In more than one childhood photo of him, his fanaticism for St Paul is evident, the club in your city. But its beginnings took place in the Osasco Sports Guild. In the neighborhood club, he broke it all, and at the age of 10 he had the opportunity to play on his love team.
In 2010 he arrived in Morumbi, e eight years later he fulfilled his dream of making his debut in First. He did it against Inter de Porto Alegre, adding 20 minutes. To all this, hand in hand with his first matches at the club level, his first engagements came with the ‘Canarinha’ shirtmore precisely in the Sub 23 category.
As a young man, Antony played a South American pre-Olympic and a handful of friendlies. And his big break came in 2021, when he was part of the Tokyo Olympics champion team. There, the striker was a starter in all of the Brazilian team’s games, and also had the luxury of assisting Malcom in the goal that decided the final in favor of his team.
Lorenzo, Larissa and a very special party
And from the debut they didn’t have to spend a couple of games for Antony to make their debut on the net and, hand in hand with the goals, the first celebrations came. On November 8, 2019, Lorenzo, Antonio’s first child, was born with Rosilene, his longtime girlfriend. From that moment on, all the celebrations were for him.
Most of his goals are accompanied by a dance in which the attacker forms a letter “L” with his hands and explains: “The letter is for Lawrence. This is my son’s name. In addition, it also represents Larissa, a girl I’ve been driving for a long time. And finally Lenny, my wife’s nickname. The party is dedicated to those 3 people “..
When Antony talks about Larissa, it’s hard for him not to get excited. Larissa is a 10 year old girl, that she was diagnosed with cancer at a young age and that in 2019 she fulfilled her dream of meeting her hero. It all started with an action on the San Pablo campus, mobilized by Antony himself. In the year of its explosion, the team was second in the Paulista Championship. on his return, they all shaved their heads in support of Larissa.
A year later, the striker embarked on the trip to the Netherlands, but he hasn’t forgotten what he had built in Brazil. By 2020, Larissa had lost more than 70% of his vision due to the disease. For this reason he could not read a letter that came from Dutch lands. But when his mother read the letter, none of them could believe it: Antony invited them to see his Ajax debut.
And for Antony it was an unbeatable debut: with the presence of Larissa in the stands, Ajax beat 3-0.At the end of the game, the footballer left a nice sentence about his relationship with the born in Sao Paulo: “Larissa teaches me to live. I have learned to appreciate life”.
Source: Clarin
