Antony’s agent reacts to rumours about Brazilian’s potential move to the Saudi Pro League

Before the January transfer window ends, there have been rumours that Antony’s agent has linked his client to a move to Saudi Arabia.

After signing a £86 million contract to join Manchester United from Ajax in the summer of 2022, the 23-year-old has found it difficult to establish himself. He only scored and provided an assist during Sunday’s 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round victory against Newport County.

Lately, there has been gossip that Antony may be leaving Old Trafford, with representatives of the Saudi Professional League seeing a chance to entice him to Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, Junior Pedroso distanced his client from a winter departure in an interview with Fabrizio Romano, stating that his client has not been in communication with United over a possible move.

“We’ve not received any communication from Man Utd about Antony and potential transfer for January or summer window,” he said. “Antony has his head focused on doing his best for Manchester [United] and improving his numbers.

After a really poor 2023–24 season, Antony’s performance against Newport over the weekend was the first genuine indication of hope for him. In addition to being in and out of the team, the elusive winger has frequently been benched during United’s most important games and has had off-field problems that have prevented him from being selected.

When discussing Antony’s game-changing goal against Newport, United boss Erik ten Hag was keen to point out that he has to use the goal as a springboard for larger and better things.

“It’s good. I think Antony got the assist for the first goal for Bruno [Fernandes], and a goal,” the Dutchman said. 

“So the end product is what we demand from him and also the rest of his job. It should have been proper and that was, today, the case. I think it was, for many players today, they did their jobs. They co-operated well and acted as a team, with good spirit.”