Erik ten Hag believed Antony was a better signing for Man Utd than Raphinha as surprising details of the £85m transfer emerge
Manchester United sanctioned an £85 million ($106m) transfer for Antony because manager Erik ten Hag favoured him over Raphinha, a move that has sparked plenty of discussion.
Back in the summer of 2022, with uncertainty surrounding how long Cristiano Ronaldo would remain at the club (his contract was eventually terminated in November 2022), United took the decision to splash out on another winger to strengthen their attacking options.
As reported by The Athletic, United showed interest in Raphinha, the Brazilian international who had impressed in the Premier League with Leeds. However, Ten Hag, who had worked with Antony at Ajax, was determined to bring him to Old Trafford.
The Dutch manager successfully convinced the club’s board that they should target Antony instead, and the move was made, despite the presence of other wingers like Raphinha and Cody Gakpo, who was at PSV Eindhoven at the time. No deal for Gakpo materialised either, and United secured Antony in the same transfer window that saw Lisandro Martinez join from Ajax.
Now, Antony is being loaned out to Real Betis after struggling to live up to his £85 million price tag. In his 96 appearances for Manchester United, Antony has scored just 12 goals and contributed 5 assists. With over two years remaining on his contract until 2027, United will find it difficult to recoup much of the initial outlay if they eventually sell him permanently.
Meanwhile, Raphinha has enjoyed a successful spell at Barcelona, scoring 22 goals and assisting 11 so far this season. His performances have even led to talks of him being a Ballon d’Or contender. Meanwhile, Gakpo, now at Liverpool, has managed to score 14 goals and set up 5 assists for his team during the 2024-25 campaign.
