The controversy surrounding Antony has been the most surprising of all the issues Manchester United has had this season, both on and off the game.
FEATURED VIDEO
He has been accused of domestic violence, and the situation has turned into a “he said, she said” situation where nothing is certain. Nevertheless, United has intervened and placed him on an extended leave while a decision is made.
Recent reports, however, suggest that the club could have avoided it all if sufficient due diligence had been carried out before signing him.
According to James Ducker of The Telegraph, Antony has been the subject of an investigation as a result of the complaints since May 2022, when the original claims were made.
Before the Brazilian player showed up at Old Trafford, it had been over three months.
The player, who was then playing for Ajax, was United’s primary right flank target over the whole summer.
In the end, he agreed to a tremendously lucrative contract worth about £85 million, much to the dismay of the footballing community.
Uncertainty surrounds whether United was aware of these inquiries at the time, but if they had, their reputation for doing their homework would have taken another hit.
It would be the second instance in a little period.
Jadon Sancho was reportedly a problematic figure in terms of professionalism during his time at Borussia Dortmund, but United moved forward with his signing despite the concerns.
That information, along with the latest bombshell involving Antony, raises doubts about United’s hiring practises, which have come under fire for their overly dependence on Ten Hag.
The inquiry into the charges against Antony is still underway as of the time of writing, and he is still on an extended leave from the club.
