Erik ten Hag 'tried to CANCEL disastrous Man Utd switch' however was ignored for one purpose
Antony will go down as one of many worst Manchester United transfers in current reminiscence after failing to justify his £85m price ticket – and a current report has claimed ex-manager Erik ten Hag by no means needed him within the first place
Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag reportedly tried to cease the membership signing Antony for £85million in 2022 regardless of beforehand working with the Brazilian at previous membership Ajax. Nevertheless, it's claimed the membership ignored him as a result of they had been apprehensive Arsenal would swoop.
Ten Hag purchased two gamers with him from the Amsterdam membership when he arrived three years in the past, with Antony becoming a member of Lisandro Martinez, whereas fellow Dutchman Tyrell Malacia signing from Feyenoord. Final 12 months he signed his previous Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.
However Antony particularly struggled to repay that vast switch charge and was closely criticised over his inconsistent performances. In his first two seasons within the Premier League, he managed 5 targets and three assists. This season, he failed to begin a recreation within the prime flight underneath Ten Hag earlier than he was sacked in October.
Issues didn't enhance underneath his successor Ruben Amorim, who despatched him on mortgage to Actual Betis in January and he now seems set to go away the membership within the close to future after a massively profitable spell with the La Liga aspect – which simply added to questions of whether or not it was the Brazilian or the tradition at Previous Trafford that was the difficulty.
Now it's claimed Ten Hag by no means needed to carry Antony to United within the first place and tried to drag the breaks on the switch, regardless of earlier strategies he was key to the transfer occurring.
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The declare additionally suggests United pushed by with the transfer after studying Arsenal had been set to make an method for the participant – however Ten Hag nonetheless supported him and tried to assist him throughout his time on the membership.
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Kees Vos, the co-founder of Ten Hag's company, wrote within the guide 'Liverpool and the Dutch': "Ten Hag and Vos weren’t in favour of this and needed to cease the switch.
"However the membership needed to push by in any respect prices, as a result of Arsenal was additionally concerned with Antony. The danger of a stronger competitor can be nice. In the end, Manchester United paid nearly €100million for Antony.
"Though Ten Hag didn’t help this switch, it caught with him all through his complete time in Manchester that he took over the attacker from Ajax for this ill-fated quantity, who was by no means capable of fulfil his promise."
Antony has been a a lot greater success in La Liga, the place he has scored 9 targets and offered two assists and has develop into a much-loved member of the squad underneath new boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Betis are hoping to signal him completely this summer time and Antony has beforehand spoken about how he has a smile on his face once more after struggling together with his psychological well being at United. In an emotional interview final month, Antony broke down in tears as he revealed he went days with out consuming and locked himself in his room.
Talking to TNT Sports activities Brazil, he stated: "(Betis) modified so much as a result of i wanted to seek out myself, due to all the pieces I went by in my private life. As I stated, I needed to do issues, however they didn’t see to work out as a result of I wasn’t completely satisfied, I didn’t really feel that want to play soccer, and I wanted to seek out myself and be completely satisfied once more as a result of taking part in soccer was at all times one thing I liked.
"I went by troublesome instances [at United] once I now not felt that pleasure. I even at all times instructed my brother, I instructed him that I couldn't take it anymore. [My brother] instructed me to carry on somewhat longer, that issues had been going to vary. It even made me emotional, as a result of they had been very onerous days for me."
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