In the hours leading up to Manchester United's game at Nottingham Forest, Diogo Dalot and Antony made a pact. The latter was going to score and they were going to celebrate together.
Dalot was back in the starting XI after being benched for the last two games and Antony was on a high after the most consistent run of form in his United career. In the end, it worked out even better than they had hoped for.
Not only did Antony score, ending a Premier League drought dating back to October, but in the second half he added a rare assist, producing a brilliant run and pass for Dalot to seal the victory, sparking wild celebrations in the front of the away end.
READ MORE: Dalot explains how United overcame injury crisis
As the players dispersed back to their own half, Dalot and Antony celebrated together. For the Brazilian, it capped what might have been his best game for the club since his £85.5million move from Ajax last summer.
There have been moments in his first season at United where he was infuriated teammates. On Thursday he was mildly rebuked for Erik ten Hag by getting involved in a needless battle with Sevilla left-back Marcos Acuna.
Antony doesn't lack for personality on the pitch, however. Acuna was wound up by some showboating, but this week there has been substance added to the style and Dalot praised his credentials off the pitch as well as on it.
"It’s our thing," he said of the celebration. "I’m happy I have a good relationship with him, he’s a fantastic kid, I like to be around him."
There is less than a year in age between Antony and Dalot and sources say they have built up a strong connection in the squad and through the Portuguese-speaking contingent, including Casemiro, Fred, Bruno Fernandes and Victor Lindelof, who learnt the language during his five years at Benfica.
The City Ground fixture was the first time Antony had managed a goal and an assist in the same game for United, having last achieved the feat in his final appearance for Ajax. He showed anticipation to follow in Anthony Martial's shot to give them the lead and then weaved his way across the pitch before timing his pass to Dalot to perfection.
Although there have been eight goals for United in 35 appearances, that was just his second assist, which is a poor return for a winger with that price tag.
But that doesn't always tell the full story, and although United probably did overpay for a player Ten Hag was desperate to bring with him from Ajax, Antony is still relatively inexperienced at this level, having had just two seasons in the Eredivisie in European football.
His recent form has suggested he is beginning to find his feet and Dalot believes the prizes for those performances might be more forthcoming between now and the end of the season.
"I think everybody is seeing he’s getting his rewards now. He works very hard every day to be at this top level. He fights for the team, he is a team player for sure I think everybody can see that and he’s getting his rewards," he said.
"I’m sure he will be very helpful for us, today he showed with the goal and the assist that he’s a very important player for us."
The partnership on the right between Dalot and Antony didn't look to come naturally earlier in the season and there have been times when the winger has looked more comfortable with Aaron Wan-Bissaka behind him.
Dalot's return to the side came with Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw unavailable at left-back, but from that flank he did manage to combine with Antony to get a goal on his 100th Premier League appearance for the club.
The Portugal full-back has reached that milestone despite some difficult moments on his journey. He was eased into the side slowly by Jose Mourinho, then struggled to convince Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and spent a season out on loan at AC Milan, but he's shone under Ten Hag this season. That journey make him an ideal guiding hand for Antony at United.
"I try my best [to help him adapt], I was not the main character on his journey so far, he was and he still is, but I think everybody helped him to get comfortable," said Dalot.
"He knew the manager already, so he knew how he likes to play and how he wants to play, we tried to help him settle in quickly and we’re very happy with him."
READ NEXT:
