Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder has criticised the “strange” behaviour of Antony ahead of the €100million (£84m) deal taking the forward to Manchester United.
The Brazil international had been strongly pushing for the move as he desperately wanted to leave Amsterdam after two impressive campaigns. Mirror Football exclusively reported that the 22-year-old had gone on strike at the club in order to force through a move.
Antony is on the brink of becoming the record sale for a Dutch club as he makes the switch to Old Trafford, where he will link up with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag and teammate Lisandro Martinez. He will become the fifth arrival of the summer at United.
As outlined by a report in De Telegraaf, Ajax technical manager Gerry Hamstra, right-hand man Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and boss Alfred Schreuder were all against the deal. The Eredivisie giants have lost a series of important players this summer, including Martinez to United, and had been adamant that no more stars would depart.
Yet the ‘football’ leaders were overruled by the club’s hierarchy, with the board stepping in and instructing them that so high was the transfer fee on the table, Ajax should use this opportunity to cash-in on the player.
Antony played 33 games last season for the Dutch giants, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions before missing the final segment of the campaign through injury. He also played nine games in the South American World Cup Qualifiers for the Brazilian national team and scored two goals.
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Schreuder told Ziggo Sport, when speaking of the impending transfer: "Absolutely. I don't think it's good that it's possible within our club. If you're Ajax, it's just bad that this happens. I've talked about it with him. If you're disappointed for a day or two, I understand, but at some point you're a professional.
"Then I said: 'I will continue with the guys who are there'. At a certain point you get angry about it, like… what are we doing? Looking at the total picture, that frustrates you as a trainer, but also how you stand in the world. Then I think, 'you’re just a player, you just have to do your thing'. But my personal feeling is that it's just bad."
He added that Antony’s decision go on strike at the club was "strange" and added that the price tag was greatly inflated: "Today, the amounts are crazy. Barcelona paid €115m (£99m) for [Ousmane] Dembele, Manchester United also paid more than €100m (£84m) for [Jadon] Sancho. Then you can pay that for him [Antony] too. Are the players worth it? No. But it will be paid."
