Ajax chief executive and former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar believes that Antony should have stayed with the Eredivisie champions for “another year”.
The Brazilian forward completed an £86million move to Old Trafford in the summer to follow Erik ten Hag to the Premier League, having gone on strike in Amsterdam in order to force through a move to the north west.
Van der Sar has admitted that the move was difficult to take at Ajax, with the club determined to keep hold of one of their star players after already losing Lisandro Martinez to the Red Devils earlier in the transfer window.
As reported by The Times, Van der Sar said: “It was our opinion they should stay for another year. 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.”
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Antony has, however, hit the ground running with the Red Devils, so far suggesting that his move to Old Trafford was not a mistake. Having set a record as the first Man United player to score in his first three Premier League games for the club, the Brazilian has adapted well.
He hasn’t found the net in his last three top flight outings, along with four games in the Europa League, but the 22-year-old has brought plenty of attacking flair to Ten Hag’s side and has shown glimpses of how important he will be in years to come.
The Premier League is certainly more competitive than the Eredivisie but Antony has every chance to equal the eight goals and four assists he recorded in 23 appearances in the Dutch top flight last season.
As for his teammate past and present, Martinez, the Argentine defender has also quickly shown that he is up for the challenge of the English top flight with his impressive start to life at Old Trafford, having already cemented his place as a regular starter in Ten Hag’s defence.
Ajax’s Player of the Year for 2021/22 has started every single one of United’s 12 Premier League games this season and has played the full 90 minutes in all but two of those games. In that time, he has helped to keep four clean sheets as United continue to find their rhythm.
At just 5ft 9in, many laughed at United’s new centre back signing, but his composure on the ball and aggression have been two of his standout traits so far, while he has formed a solid partnership alongside Raphael Varane. Both him and Antony, at least, are suggesting that they didn’t need another year at Ajax just yet.
