Antony’s agent, Junior Pedroso, has opened up about why the Brazilian winger was on the verge of joining Liverpool before ultimately moving to Manchester United. According to Pedroso, the shift in Mohamed Salah’s contract situation played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s decision to abandon their pursuit of Antony.
At the time, Antony, who was impressing at Ajax, had attracted significant interest from several top clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester United. With Erik ten Hag now in charge at Old Trafford, the Dutch manager eagerly sought to bring his former Ajax star to the Premier League.
Liverpool had identified Antony as a potential replacement for Salah, who was in the midst of contract negotiations with the club. The Egyptian forward had just been named the Premier League’s Player of the Year but was stalling on signing a new deal. During this uncertainty, Antony seemed a viable option for the Reds.
However, the situation changed dramatically when Salah ultimately agreed to a new contract with Liverpool, securing his future at Anfield. This decision led Liverpool to end their interest in Antony, shifting their focus back to their star winger.
Pedroso confirmed this development, stating to winwin.com: “Yes, this story has a basis in truth. No, negotiations stopped as Salah renewed his contract at the time with Liverpool, and that made Antony’s move to Liverpool impossible.”
After the setback with Liverpool, Antony moved to Manchester United in the summer of 2022 for a transfer fee in excess of £80 million. The winger took drastic measures to secure the move, including going on strike to force through the transfer, a move that reflected Ten Hag’s strong desire to reunite with him in Manchester.
Antony made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut in a 3-1 win over Arsenal, but his form has since been inconsistent, and he has come under scrutiny from fans and pundits alike. His time at United has been marred by criticism of his performances, and he is now viewed by many as one of the Premier League’s most expensive flops. With Ten Hag’s recent departure from the club, Antony’s future at Old Trafford is uncertain.
In hindsight, United’s £80 million investment in Antony, a player initially profiled as a £20 million signing during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign, has not yielded the expected return. The winger has struggled to justify the hefty price tag, and his lack of impact has drawn heavy criticism from former United players such as Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.
Neville, in particular, lambasted the Glazers for sanctioning the move, with Antony’s underwhelming performances contributing to United’s disappointing start to the 2022-23 season. As the club faces another period of transition, Antony’s future remains in limbo, with the winger’s next steps at United uncertain after Ten Hag’s sacking.
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