Man Utd target Antony: Lucas Moura friendship, Robben comparison and Ten Hag relationship

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to making their first signing of the Erik ten Hag era and the target is an appropriate one for the Dutch manager.

Ten Hag brought Antony to Ajax and it now seems as though he will oversee his arrival at Old Trafford. United officials have reportedly flown to Amsterdam to push forward a £40million transfer for the winger, who has attracted plenty of transfer interest over the past few months.

The transfer links are no surprise. Antony enjoyed a productive 2021/22 season for Ajax, returning 12 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances to help Ten Hag sign off with an Eredivisie title. The 22-year-old has contributed an impressive 22 goals and 20 assists in 78 appearances for Ajax altogether since joining from Sao Paulo two years ago.

It now looks as though he could be on his way to Manchester United. Here is everything United fans need to know about Antony.

Born Antony Matheus dos Santos in Osasco, a suburb of Sao Paulo in Brazil, in February 2000, Antony began his football journey as a 10-year-old in the academy of the city’s famous club. Despite his prodigious talent, his progression wasn’t plain sailing. He says he was on the verge of being released by Sao Paulo on three occasions and, unlike many Brazilian wonderkids, it took until he was 18 for a first-team debut to come.

Although he didn’t hit the big time until adulthood, he was forced to grow up fast. By the time he was 19 he had a young son and had written a book, entitled ‘From Overcoming a Real Dream’, about his fight to make it at Sao Paulo.

Like many young footballers from Sao Paulo, Antony looked up to Lucas Moura, who is viewed as an inspiration, having come through the club’s academy to make it in Europe