Erik ten Hag has made his fair share of mistakes in the opening 18 months of his Manchester United reign – which was to be expected, given the sheer magnitude of the rebuild he took over last summer. But few are more glaring than the £85million signing on Antony, which came under the spotlight again during Sunday’s disastrous Manchester derby.
United looked unlikely to hand Ten Hag a new winger in his first transfer window before the surprise opening season defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford.
That also sparked the £70m panic signing of Casemiro, who shone in the first season but looks a stranger in comparison this term.
United initially bid £67m for Antony but ended up over-paying for the 23-year-old Brazilian, as has become customary given the lack of negotiators under the Glazer regime.
Ten Hag’s recruitment at Old Trafford has primarily focused on players he trusts, either from his former clubs or those with the Dutch football blueprint.
For that reason, United trusted his judgement by making Antony the club’s second-most expensive signing in their history, but the risk hasn’t paid off.
Antony has registered eight goals and three assists in 53 appearances, keeping players like Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho out of the side despite consistently below-par performances.
Click here to join our Man Utd WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive Red Devils news.
However, Ten Hag’s actions in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City and his comments in the aftermath suggest he has come to terms with what looks to be an expensive error.
Antony was dropped for the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side, with Bruno Fernandes preferred on the right wing. He was seen shaking his head on the bench while Ten Hag made substitutions in the second half.
After coming on in the 86th minute, with the game long gone, Antony contributed little and received a yellow card for an embarrassing and childish swipe at Jeremy Doku.
Ten Hag interestingly called on Mason Mount and Alejandro Garnacho to make a difference before his £85m man.
He also snubbed Antony in his post-match comments, explaining his unpopular decision to take Rasmus Hojlund off on 73 minutes.
“I have to protect Rasmus Hojlund, and I have to protect the team. He is putting so much effort in pressing, going in the transitions, going long ways and being in the fight with the tough opposition,” Ten Hag said.
“And we are losing the game 2-0, he is not used to it – three games in a week. So I have to protect him, and I also have to protect the team and bring some energy in.
“We have bench players – Mason Mount and Garnacho – we know he can change games. That is the argument why we subbed him.”
Ten Hag already losing faith in Antony would be a damning representation of what seems to be a project crumbling before it truly got started.
But more importantly, it further emphasises the impact Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3bn deal for 25 per cent of the club could have once INEOS inherit sporting control.
Ten Hag needs support with recruitment, and he won’t get it from the current set-up. A new sporting director is a must, at minimum.
