When will Antony make his Man Utd debut?
FT Desk
- 30 Aug 2022 15:45 BST
- 3 min read
Antony has completed his €100 million move from Ajax to Manchester United. When will the Brazil winger make his Red Devils debut?
Antony has been one of new United manager Erik ten Hag's top transfer targets all summer, the pair having won the Dutch domestic double together in 2021.
But it took the 22-year-old refusing to play for Ajax and a blockbuster €100m bid to persuade Ajax to part company with the winger, who enjoyed 12 goals and 10 assists in 33 games in all competitions last season, including six goal-involvements in the Champions League.
Lisandro Martinez TO Antony 💪pic.twitter.com/H8Fj8tJ0pJ
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 30, 2022
Man Utd head to Leicester City on Thursday looking to make it three consecutive wins in the Premier League, but it is unlikely that Antony will be able to play any part.
The Brazilian is fit having completed his medical on Monday, but according to Sky Sports his VISA and work permit are still a work in progress.
Bureaucracy
Casemiro - an €80m arrival from Real Madrid - had to endure a similar wait before making his debut in Saturday's 1-0 win at Southampton. Alongside Fred, there are now three Brazilians in the Man Utd squad.
The first opportunity they have to play together will likely be the meeting with Arsenal at Old Trafford next Sunday, although Antony may have to wait for United's Europa League Group E opener against Real Sociedad the following Thursday.
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How much have United spent on transfers this summer
With Antony added to the mix, United have now spent £214m/€249m on transfers. As well as Casemiro, Antony's former Ajax teammate Lisandro Martinez has been added for €66m while left-back Tyrell Malacia joined in a €15m deal from Feyenoord.
Christian Eriksen arrived on a free from Brentford while United are still in the market for a striker with Cristiano Ronaldo set to leave the club before the summer transfer window slams shut.
