PSV sporting director labels Antony transfer fee ‘a madness’ | OneFootball

There has been a lot written about new Manchester United signing Antony this season. He has got the same treatment as players before him from people who fail to understand that he is still learning his trade in a different league. The most difficult league in the world.

PSV Eindhoven director of football Marcel Brands says that United’s mega-money move to sign Antony last summer was ‘a madness’.

The Reds spend a lot time chasing Antony last summer after Erik ten Hag made it clear he wanted to re-sign the Brazilian winger he took to Ajax. Antony cost £85.5 million, making him one of the most expensive signings in Premier League history.

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This is a big-money figure and there’s no way to get away from that – but United spent that money on potential. And on a player Ten Hag believes has the ability to be a success at the highest level of the game.

Antony is only 23 and we need to be patient with him. The winger has shown flashes that he can be a lethal weapon on the right flank, and he haven’t had that threat in years.

Brands, who was director of football at Everton between 2018 and 2021, could not believe what United paid for Antony in the summer. He compared the fee to the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Raphinha who moved to Man City and Barcelona respectively last year.

“I think Raphinha is an even better player than Antony, but he left for much less,” Brands told Dutch publication Voetbalprimeur.

“If you compare it with transfers that were realistic, such as that of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City to Arsenal: that was also around that rate. Those are normal amounts.

“I think everyone in football knows that Antony was a madness.”

I have been satisfied with Antony’s first season at United and I believe he will build on that again next season. It’s something we, as United fans, should look forward to.

It’s unfair to harshly criticise Antony due to his transfer fee.

Brands is probably upset because United didn’t spend the Antony money on Cody Gakpo – and PSV didn’t get anywhere near the same money from Liverpool.

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