Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim wants additions at Man United but he may also see departures in January
Manchester United have been urged to offload £86m flop Antony in next month’s transfer window by former first-team coach Rene Meulensteen.
Brazilian winger Antony has not made a Premier League start yet this season and does not appear to have a clear home in new head coach Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.
The former Ajax winger did appear off the bench against Arsenal last week and lasted an hour of the Europa League win against Bodo-Glimt six days previous. But he is nowhere near being first choice under Amorim and the club are open to offers.
However Antony has 18 months remaining on his contract and earns an estimated £200,000 per week - limiting the number of potential suitors come January.
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Meulensteen, who sat on the bench at Old Trafford for six seasons towards the end of Sir Alex Ferguson ’s reign, told Lucky Block: “ Manchester United might have to bite the bullet and cut their losses with Antony in January, because I don’t think he has the attributes to contribute to what Ruben Amorim wants.
“I find it difficult to see where he fits into this team. I think he’s been one of the biggest misfiring transfers in the Premier League in recent years.
“He’s another example of a player who comes from the Dutch league – which I know really well – where you can win seven out of ten games with two fingers up your nose and you don’t have to break a sweat. In the Premier League, you have to be absolutely top class in every game you play.”
Antony looks on during Man Utd's match with Barnsley
Antony is yet to make a league start this season. ( Image: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA)
Speaking to Lucky Block, Meulensteen suggested Antony’s personality might also be rubbing up his team-mates the wrong way - without providing any specific examples.
“I think the biggest thing that has held Antony back is his own personality – he’s got certain characteristics that don’t sit very well with some of the other players.
“Away from that though, there’s a lack of effectiveness as a player – he’s very predictable in the way he wants to cut in on his left foot. We hardly see any quality assists or chance creation from him and I think we could see him elsewhere by the end of January.”
United face Viktoria Pilzen away in the Europa League on Thursday night before a Manchester derby away to City on Sunday afternoon. Antony could appear again in the former fixture.
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