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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has emphasized that Brazil winger Antony needs to “earn the right” to secure his spot in the team. Antony, who joined United from Ajax for £82 million in 2022, has struggled to meet expectations, making him the second-most expensive signing in the club’s history after Paul Pogba.
Despite the hefty price tag, Antony’s performance has been underwhelming. In 55 Premier League appearances, he has managed just five goals and three assists. Last season, as United finished eighth, the 24-year-old contributed a single goal and one assist.
This season, Antony has only seen one minute of competitive action, coming on as a substitute in a match against Brighton. With Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Amad Diallo outperforming him, Antony faces an uphill battle to regain his place in the squad.
Ahead of United’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Barnsley, Ten Hag made it clear that Antony’s future at the club is in his own hands. “He’s impatient. He wants to play,” Ten Hag acknowledged. However, he stressed that “in top football, there are laws,” and the selection of the team is based on chemistry and dynamic performance. “Players have to fight for their positions,” he added.
Rashford, Garnacho, and Amad have all found the back of the net this season, piling pressure on Antony, who was recently linked with a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce before the transfer window closed.
“The other players are doing so well—they’re contributing,” Ten Hag said, challenging Antony to prove himself in training. “He has to get over them. He has to earn the right in training.”
With the cup match against Barnsley looming, Ten Hag hinted that Antony could feature, but reiterated that training performance and attitude are key to earning game time: “When players do the right thing in training, when the attitude is good, when they show performance in training, they will earn the right to play.”
