Man Utd chiefs ‘admit they OVERPAID for Antony transfer’ as fans grow frustrated with £85.5m star’s one-dimensional play
MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly admitted they overpaid for Antony in the summer.
The Brazilian 22, joined from Ajax for £85.5million following a lengthy transfer saga.
The deal put him fourth on the list of the Premier League‘s most expensive players behind Jack Grealish, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba.
He hit the ground running with goals in each of his first three league matches.
But since then he has managed just six goal contributions and produced performances which have divided Man Utd fans.
A display which typified that division was the 3-0 win over Charlton on Tuesday.
Antony scored the opening goal of the game with a wonderful curling effort into the far corner.
But he was then on the receiving end of groans from the Old Trafford faithful for the rest of the match.
His desire to constantly cut in on his left foot frustrated the home supporters as he slowed down United’s attacks on several occasions.
He was then replaced by Marcus Rashford on the hour mark, before the England international bagged a late brace.
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According to ESPN, Man Utd are aware they paid over the odds for the South American attacker.
However, they insist there were legitimate reasons for doing so.
They included a lack of alternatives, Antony’s stated desire to join, and growing interest from other clubs threatening to increase his price tag.
Despite his Jekyll and Hyde performance so far this season, Erik ten Hag defended him back in October, saying: “He is a young player we have to develop, but he has to develop himself.
“We have to expect more from him. He needs challenges. That’s why he came to the Premier League.
“He will step up. In the first weeks, he’s scored goals, he did good stuff, but also I see a lot of room for improvement in his game.”
Man Utd are preparing to add to their attacking options by signing Wout Weghorst on loan until the end of the season.
Ten Hag’s men currently sit fourth in the Premier League, two points ahead of Tottenham but nine behind leaders Arsenal ahead of Man City’s visit on Saturday afternoon.