He was “mentally unfit” to play, citing “Sky Sports‘ an unnamed source referring to the recent absence of right winger Antony from the Ajax Amsterdam squad. The reason for the state of mind is the offer rejected by the Eredivisie club from Manchester United, who wanted to sign the 22-year-old for a fee of 80 million euros. While the “Red Devils” are already working on a new offer for the Brazilian with a contract until 2025, according to media reports, Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder confidently and with clear words dampened hopes of a possible change following the 1-0 win Sparta Rotterdam.
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“I have a good feeling about it. Of course it’s difficult. I understand the boy,” said the 49-year-old, before giving a tip in the direction of Manchester: “But he plays for Ajax, so these clubs knock on the door. We’re playing in the Champions League and I don’t think Manchester United will be there.” Asked if the Dutch could afford to turn down potential follow-up bids of €90m or €100m, the coach replied: ” I don’t know, it’s up to the club to decide, but I think we’re in a very strong position financially. (…) As I said earlier today, the sums that are at stake these days are of course insane. But if you look at our squad, we’ve already sold five or six key players since I arrived. I would not approve if we were to sell another player.”
Ajax have made around €121m in the summer so far from player sales, including central defender Lisandro Martínez, who has already been sold to United, and striker Sébastien Haller, who has been sold to Dortmund. Only Manchester City received more money in the current transfer window (overview).
Ajax professional Antony is considered ten Hag’s dream player at Manchester United
United coach Erik ten Hag, who, after Martínez, has recently been able to look forward to the third well-known newcomer in the person of Real Madrid’s Casemiro (to the transfer overview of the “Red Devils”), is said to have been pushing for a reunion with Antony internally for weeks he had steered from FC São Paulo to Ajax in the summer of 2020 for almost 16 million euros. During their time together in Amsterdam, they won two Eredivisie titles and the Dutch Cup. If a transfer of ten Hag’s dream player cannot be realized, Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven is a possible alternative.
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