Vincent Kompany reportedly gave the Man United player a personal call on deadline day.placeholder image
Vincent Kompany reportedly gave the Man United player a personal call on deadline day. | Getty Images
Vincent Kompany reportedly gave the now departed Manchester United player a personal call on deadline day.
Man United’s transfer windows are never dull times, especially in recent seasons, with the Red Devils spending big on underperforming players a lot of the time. They have had to make some tough financial decisions in recent years, too, selling players for a lot less than they paid for them.
All four were sold (or will be), for a lot less than Man United paid for them in the first place, which is a tough pill for United to swallow, but it has been necessary for Amorim to get what he wants out of a squad.
Antony reveals close Bayern Munich move
Winger Antony joined Man United in 2022 from Ajax for £84m, and the Red Devils ended up selling him this summer to Real Betis for £25m. He spent the second half of last season on loan with Betis, and he managed to recapture his best form. It always seemed like he was going to move to the Spanish club permanently, as he loved his time there, and so a move materialised.
However, in a recent interview, Antony revealed that he nearly joined Bayern Munich instead. He told Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte: “I'm going to be completely honest with you right now, it really shook me up.
“We're talking about a global giant, Bayern Munich, where there is a coach with that kind of history. Vincent Kompany called me and we had a conversation. He was super polite to me, said he always really liked my football, and this was at 11pm (on Deadline Day), a little after 11pm. Whether I wanted to or not, it really affected me because of the greatness of the club, the greatness of the coach and the way he approached me, the way he talked to me."
There is one unsold Man United ‘flop’
Amorim took notes from Enzo Maresca at Chelsea in the summer by forming somewhat of a bomb squad of players that he wanted to get rid of at all costs. The likes of Antony, Rashford, Sancho and more were included in that group of players, with Alejandro Garnacho another example.
However, one member of Amorim’s bomb squad ended up staying at Old Trafford. Tyrell Malacia spent the second half of last season on loan at PSV, but he returned in the summer, with Man United looking to sell or loan him out.
They were unable to offload the Dutch full back, so he is now sitting in the United reserves, not playing for himself, and not helping the Red Devils. It would be expected for him to at least leave on loan in January. If not, then United will likely let his contract run down and expire in June.
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