Antony spotted relaxing by a pool in Sao Paulo, as he delays Man Utd return

Manchester United player Antony has been pictured relaxing with friends around a pool at a gated estate near Sao Paulo after agreeing to an indefinite leave of absence from his club following abuse allegations.

The 23-year-old looked relaxed as he posed for selfies with fans who recognised him as he enjoyed his downtime with two friends.

The striker had flown to Brazil before being told he was being dropped from this week's International fixtures.

He is now expected to stay in his homeland for the time being while he tries to defend himself from allegations he assaulted three women.

They include DJ and influencer Gabriela Cavallin who has claimed the footballer assaulted her four times and bank worker Ingrid Lana who alleges he pushed her against a wall in Manchester in September last year.

Antony, who faces police investigations in Brazil and the UK, has denied any wrongdoing.

He has not been arrested or charged and has promised to 'come up with the evidence' to prove the truth.

The winger, who signed for United from Ajax in a POUNDS 85m deal last summer, was photographed doing a thumbs-up in one selfie around the pool in the gated Alphaville condominium in the upmarket municipality of Barueri near to Sao Paulo.

In another he posed bare chested in a pair of swim shorts looking smiling and relaxed with a young fan.

His upmarket surroundings were a world away from those of his childhood in the Sao Paulo suburb dubbed 'Inferninho' - Portuguese for 'Little Hell.'

Antony revealed after joining the Red Devils last year how he jumped over the body of a dead man lying in an alley near his home as he walked to school, insisting: 'I am not saying this to sound tough. It was just my reality.'

It was not immediately clear today if the