Premier League

Ferdinand backs £84.8m ‘box of tricks’ to help current Man Utd star become ‘explosive’

Ferdinand praises Antony

Rio Ferdinand has spoken on Man Utd signing Antony after it was announced that the English club had agreed to bring him in from Ajax for £84.8m.

The Red Devils have finally got their chief target following months of discussions with Ajax.

Man Utd have agreed to pay an initial £80.6m to sign the winger and an extra £4.2m could be paid in add-ons.


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He will comfortably be United’s most expensive summer signing. They previously paid just over £60m to sign Casemiro.

Another £57m was spent by Man Utd to bring in Antony’s ex-Ajax teammate, Lisandro Martinez on a permanent basis.

Antony was involved in twelve Eredivise goals last term for Ajax. At the start of this campaign, he has been involved in five goals in just three competitive games.

Ferdinand has explained how Man Utd will benefit from having Antony in their team:

“What does Antony bring? He brings his trickery, he brings that unpredictable Brazilian element, a fantastic technical football player, plays on the right-hand side of the front three, cutting in on his left foot – he’s left-footed predominantly,” Ferdinand said on Vibe with FIVE.

“He’s a man who’s a box full of tricks. He’s someone who wants to beat people but he has got an eye for a pass as well, he can create, he can slide balls through for the attacking players and people who make good runs off of him.”

Ferdinand has also suggested that playing alongside Antony will “suit” Jadon Sancho, as he is “better” at playing the “Ajax way”:

“He [Antony] wants people running off him and I think he’s better when he’s playing short passes and moving and running and that Ajax way,” Ferdinand added.

“If Erik ten Hag can get the attacking formula working like that it’ll really suit him and I think it’ll suit someone like Sancho as well. He likes that short pass and movement game, he may be a little bit more explosive but he definitely brings that excitement factor that Old Trafford like in their wingers.

“He’ll want to beat the full-back and Man United wingers down the years have been able to beat people, if not beat people he can beat them with movement and skill and a shimmy.

“The wingmen at Man United have got great history and I’m hoping this one’s another one on that conveyor belt that excites the fans.”

 

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