In a seismic development at Old Trafford, Manchester United's record-signing Antony has been delivered a brutal ultimatum: find a new club in January or face career stagnation.
The £85 million Brazilian winger, once heralded as the saviour of United's right flank, has become the symbol of the club's catastrophic transfer policy. Sources close to the dressing room reveal that patience has evaporated entirely with the 23-year-old.
A Staggering Fall From Grace
Since his blockbuster move from Ajax in 2022, Antony's trajectory has nosedived. His return of zero goals and zero assists this season paints a damning picture of his contributions. Once a favourite of manager Erik ten Hag, the Dutchman's faith is now understood to be hanging by a thread.
Technical inefficiency, a lack of defensive work rate, and a series of underwhelming performances have seen him plummet down the pecking order. The emergence of academy star Alejandro Garnacho on the right wing has effectively sealed his fate.
The January Fire Sale Begins
United executives are preparing for a major squad overhaul in January, and Antony is at the top of the list of players deemed surplus to requirements. The club is desperate to offload his enormous wages and recoup whatever fraction of the original fee remains possible.
Potential loan moves back to Brazil or to Serie A clubs are already being explored by his representatives. A permanent transfer, however, remains complicated due to his immense salary and plummeting market value.
Ten Hag's Last Straw
The manager's public defence of his player has worn thin. Privately, Ten Hag is acknowledged to have run out of excuses for Antony's poor form. The decision to exile Jadon Sancho, partly to accommodate Antony, now looks increasingly misguided and has intensified the scrutiny on the Brazilian.
This transfer saga represents more than just the failure of one player; it's a defining moment for the Ten Hag era and a test of the new INEOS-led football hierarchy's ability to make tough decisions.
