Former Manchester United goalkeeper and current chief executive of Ajax Edwin van der Sar thinks Antony ought to have stayed at the Eredivisie champions for “another year.”
After going on strike in Amsterdam to force a transfer to the north west, the Brazilian forward sealed an £86m move to Old Trafford in the summer to join Erik ten Hag in the Premier League.
Ajax were adamant to hold onto one of their key players after previously losing Lisandro Martinez to the Red Devils earlier in the transfer window, and Van der Sar has acknowledged that the decision was difficult to make.
What Van Der Sar Said About Antony
As reported by The Times, Van der Sar said: “It was our opinion they should stay for another year. We gave a firm ‘no’ to Arsenal when they came first for Lisandro; we fought hard to keep him.
“It was [an] economic [decision] but it was a hard one to take.
“We knew there was interest but not at that level and it was too late to find a good replacement.
“I don’t think the way [Antony] handled it was the correct one, but it’s important all the players who leave Ajax have success because it reflects well on us.”
Trending Stories: Virgil Van Dijk Names Spotify Camp Nou As Second Favorite Stadium After Anfield
Antony has, however, hit the ground running with the Red Devils, so far suggesting that his move to Old Trafford was not a mistake. Having set a record as the first Man United player to score in his first three Premier League games for the club, the Brazilian has adapted well.
The 22-year-old has now played four games in the Europa League and three games in the top flight without scoring.
However, he has given plenty of offensive flair to Ten Hag’s team and has already showed flashes of how crucial he will be in the years to come.
COMMENTS