Antony, the latest big-money signing at Manchester United, was unveiled by the club earlier on Thursday and he could be in line to make his debut on Sunday against Arsenal.
United face Leicester on Thursday evening and although his deal was not finalised in time for him to feature, he could be in the stands watching as Erik ten Hag eyes three straight wins in the Premier League.
Rumours of a supposed move for Antony started ramping up roughly two weeks ago and incidentally, or perhaps not so incidentally, Antony was pictured watching United’s 2-1 win over Liverpool with his agent.
Now, speaking in his first interview with club media, Antony has admitted that he watched the storied game against Liverpool and celebrated like a fan when United scored.
“Of course I watched it,” Antony told the official Manchester United website on the Liverpool game. “When United scored I celebrated as if I was a fan in the stands.
Read more: (Photo) The best pictures from Antony’s unveiling following big-money move
“I watched the game closely and attentively, what stood out was the desire, the unity of the team, the fire in their bellies, the desire to play.
“That’s what delighted me about the team. I absolutely watched the game, every minute of it and was really happy with the win and celebrated a lot.”
SN’s verdict…
Ajax might not have appreciated Antony’s tactics to secure a move to Old Trafford but from a United viewpoint, it shows that the 22-year-old was desperate to join the Reds.
One of the biggest criticisms of last season was the idea that players were not working hard enough for the team and Antony is the polar opposite.
That can also be true to several other players Erik ten Hag has brought in this summer. Lisandro Martinez, who has emerged as one of the Premier League’s leading defenders, is another one.
