Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said that Antony "needs more confidence", with the out-of-form forward seemingly in the Portuguese's plans at Old Trafford moving forward.
The Red Devils paid an initial £85m to sign Antony from Ajax in the summer of 2022, but the Brazil international has been unable to make his mark for the 20-time English champions.
The forward has only managed 12 goals and five assists in 92 appearances for Man United, while he has just one goal in 10 outings in all competitions during the 2024-25 campaign.
Antony has featured off the bench in two of Man United's last three Premier League matches, though, in addition to starting twice since Amorim's arrival against Bodo/Glimt and Tottenham Hotspur.
The South American featured as one of the number 10s in Amorim's 3-4-3 formation against Spurs, but he struggled to make his mark and was replaced early in the second period of the EFL Cup quarter-final.
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Amorim vows to make Antony "a better player"
Antony's future remains the subject of much speculation, but he has a contract at Old Trafford until June 2027, with the option of a further 12 months.
The forward's significant wages will also make it hard for Man United to sell him, and it is believed that Amorim is determined to get the best out of the Brazilian, who was once regarded as one of the best young talents in world football.
Amorim has insisted that Antony "is working really hard", and the Red Devils head coach is confident that he can "help him be a better player".
"He needs more confidence. If you remember Antony and I played against him in Ajax. He lacks a little bit of confidence to go to one against one so he will improve," said the Man United boss after the 4-3 loss to Tottenham.
"But he's working really hard and he's trying in displaying more inside than outside, especially in this game. And he just has to do that, to work really hard and I will happily help him to be a better player."
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Does Antony have a long-term future at Man United?
Interestingly, Antony has featured as a right-sided wing-back under Amorim, and there could potentially be minutes for him in that position, but it is tough to imagine too many chances further forward unless he starts to produce.
Mason Mount is out for "several weeks" with another injury, while it is currently unclear whether Marcus Rashford will be back in the squad for Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
That said, Antony is still behind the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho when it comes to the two number 10 positions in his 3-4-3 system.
There is still time for the Brazilian to turn things around, though, and Amorim could help him unlock his potential, which would be a huge boost for the Red Devils in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign.
Matt Law
