Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar has admitted that the Dutch giants felt Lisandro Martinez and Antony would have been better off staying at the Johan Cruyff Arena for another year, opposed to joining Manchester United during the summer.
Following Erik ten Hag's appointment as manager in April, it was inevitable that United, who stretched their unbeaten run in the Premier League to four matches with Saturday's 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, were going to target players from the Dutchman's former club. Countless individuals had improved under his management and several of them were pinpointed as possibilities to improve United's squad.
After quickly discovering that a pursuit for Jurrien Timber was going nowhere, United switched their attentions to Martinez, landing him in late July for £56.7million. The Reds then secured Antony's signature just over a month later, landing him for around £85m.
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Both players have made encouraging starts to life at Old Trafford, highlighting why Ten Hag was so intent on being reunited with both of them. However, former United shot-stopper Van der Sar has admitted that it was 'hard' for the Dutch club to accept the losses of both players.
"It was our opinion they should stay for another year," said Van der Sar, as quoted by The Times. "We gave a firm 'no' to Arsenal when they came first for Lisandro; we fought hard to keep him.
"It was [an] economic [decision] but it was a hard one to take. We knew there was interest but not at that level and it was too late to find a good replacement.
"I don't think the way [Antony] handled it was the correct one, but it's important all the players who leave Ajax have success because it reflects well on us."
Van der Sar, who spent six years at Old Trafford, has also praised the start Ten Hag has made to life in M16, adding: "We saw the work Erik has done when he established himself as a young coach. He's relentless, he wants to achieve as much as possible.
"The training exercises, the way he wants to play, it is coming into a picture."
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