Antony's Manchester United form: Jadon Sancho's exit puts spotlight on struggles of another expensive winger
Jadon Sancho's departure to Borussia Dortmund puts the spotlight on the struggles of another expensive winger at Manchester United but are the expectations of Antony as outsized as his £85m transfer fee? How good is the Brazilian? Adam Bate takes a look...
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Thursday 11 January 2024 14:00, UK
Jadon Sancho's Manchester United career has been so underwhelming that it might come as a surprise to discover that the team won their last five Premier League games in which he started. It is 14 matches unbeaten with Sancho as a starter.
Even as he departs for what it is hoped will be a career relaunch on loan at Borussia Dortmund, Sancho can claim to have scored at Old Trafford more recently than Marcus Rashford. More recently too than Antony, the £85m signing who usurped him.
If Antony's own presence has quickened the journey of Sancho — a £70m signing himself — towards the exit, it only puts more focus on the Brazilian. Manchester United have a winger problem and it remains unclear whether he is a player capable of solving it.
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Sancho's struggles were complex. Ranking seventh in the Premier League for expected assists from open play last season hinted at promise, but the sense that he failed to step up prevailed. The breakdown of his relationship with Erik ten Hag soured things.
The fear with Antony is that even if his hunger is interpreted positively, even if his mentality is charitably described as that of a winner, there are question marks over his ability to be the player United need him to be. Doubts were there from the outset.
«He plays so childishly,» said Dutch legend Marco van Basten at the time of his move. «I do not like his
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