Manchester United winger Antony denies assault allegations

Manchester United winger Antony has issued a statement after he spoke to police investigating accusations of domestic violence against him in Brazil.

According to reports in Brazil, a woman filed a complaint at a Sao Paulo police station earlier in June, making allegations of assault, bodily injury and threatening behaviour.

The accusations date from an alleged incident in a Sao Paulo nightclub in July 2022 and include three further reported incidents, including some in England.

Antony, who signed for United for £85million last summer, has posted on social media on Wednesday to deny the claims and said he had now spoken to police who are investigating the reports.

"To friends, fans and followers," the 23-year-old posted on Instagram. "For you, after submitting my statement at the police station where the investigation of the investigation involving my name is being conducted, I wanted to speak publicly for the first time since I was falsely accused of assault.

"I stayed silent until the moment so that nothing could interfere with the investigation process, but during all those days my family and I suffered in silence. Despite being born and raised in a very needy community, I had never been through a situation similar to this, in which a false assault charge resulted in a preliminary and unfair public judgement on the part of some.

"After the closure of the investigation my innocence will be proven certain that justice will prevail and the damage initially caused to my image will be in the past. Thank you for the countless messages of support received at this very difficult time."