25 January 2024 , 02:00
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag accepted Antony has found things tough this season, but the winger's agent insists there have been no discussions over an exit.
The Brazil international has been linked with a move away, with United looking at ways to free up funds to dip into the market either now or in the summer. However, it could be tough for them to recoup anything close to the £80million plus they forked out to sign the 23-year-old from Ajax.
According to agent Junior Pedroso, though, this could all be moot. Pedroso insists the club have not suggested they're looking to move on the wide man, and claims the player himself is focusing on becoming more productive on the field.
After blowing hot and cold in his first season, he has found it a lot of tougher this time around. Ahead of the FA Cup fourth round trip to Newport, he has yet to register a goal or an assist all season long.
“Manchester has so far not communicated any interest in transferring him in either the January or summer window,” Pedroso told United in Focus. “Antony is focused on these four months of the season so he can improve his performance, knowing that he needs to score goals and assists.
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"This is his focus. Today our head is on Manchester United. He knows very well that he needs to score, there’s no point in just playing good games, he has to score goals and provide assists.
"He is very coherent about this. He will come back different, his head has become a little key and certainly in these four months he will show much more than he showed this season.”
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Antony made his return to Manchester United in their draw with Tottenham (Paul Currie/REX/Shutterstock)Pedroso made reference to Antony changing his diet and working on his recovery routine. The Brazilian was injured in the December defeat to Nottingham Forest, missing the FA Cup third round game, but returned from the bench against Tottenham in United's last league game.
Ahead of the Spurs game, Ten Hag suggested there's more to come from Antony. He pointed to the form in the Eredivisie which prompted the manager to bring him with from Ajax, indicating he can replicate it in United colours.
“You mention Ajax, also I look back there so his effectiveness, his end product was very high there and also in the Champions League, very high," Ten Hag said. "So, I am sure he's capable of doing this. He's capable of doing this, key actions, key passes, the crosses, the finishing, it's very high and should return to that level but the Premier League is more difficult and he's capable of doing that.”"