Manchester United star Antony has time to revive his career at Old Trafford, but the Brazilian's decline has been notable enough for Erik ten Hag to mount a defence of a player whose value has plummeted over the course of 18 months in England.
Antony joined United at the end of the summer 2022 transfer window, following manager Ten Hag to Manchester. His first season brought some high points, even if eight goals and three assists is a little less than some fans might have expected from a player who cost north of £80million.
This season, though, he has reached January without registering a single goal or assist. "Of course, when the price is high, the expectations will rise even more," Ten Hag recognised when addressing criticism of the big-money arrival. "But - and I have said this previously - this is the best club you can want to play for. This is the best challenge you want and I would go for that challenge if I was a player and had a choice to make.”
United's staff appeared to value Antony at considerably less than the £85m they eventually paid, with the club opting against a pursuit when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was manager. And now, based on latest numbers, the price they did pay looks like an overspend.
According to numbers from Transfermarkt, Antony's market value is just €35m (£30m), around £55m less than the sum paid to Ajax. That puts him tied for eighth in the ranking of United's most valuable players, level with right-back Diogo Dalot.
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Tenth place on the list is also a tie between an expensive signing and younger talent, with £60m man Casemiro level with Alejandro Garnacho with a £25.8m value. Some will feel the latter can only increase in value, though, as he enjoys a first full season as an established part of the senior side
Seventh place goes to Luke Shaw (£32.6m), a little above what United paid to sign him from Southampton back in 2014. Above him sit summer signings Andre Onana (£34.3m) and Mason Mount (£38.7m), both of whom cost a little more than their supposed values.
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Erik ten Hag has yet to get the best out of Antony at Manchester United (AFP via Getty Images)Just outside the podium positions we have another Ten Hag signing, Lisandro Martinez. His £43m valuation is in sync with the sum paid to Ajax, and United have missed the Argeintina star's influence during his time out injured.
Rasmus Hojlund (£55.8m) sits third. The summer signing waited until December for his first Premier League goal, but his Champions League exploits - even as United suffered an early exit - gave hope after his £72m arrival from Atalanta.
And finally to top spot, which is shared by Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford with a valuation of £60.1m. Fernandes is a rare recent example of a United signing appreciating in value, while academy graduate Rashford played his way back into form last season, even if he hasn't been at his best this term.
Bruno Fernandes shares top spot with Marcus Rashford (Getty Images)“I think all the signings are top players," Ten Hag said when quizzed on his record. "What we have to do now is find a way to perform as a team and then we will judge them very differently. We have to understand and acknowledge we have to do it together. We have to be on the same page, in the same boat.
“We have to perform together, because all of those players are very good signings. But playing for United is so different to playing for any other club. It's so much more difficult to play and perform for United, than at another club. So you need a very strong character to perform, to deal with the high expectations."
Top 10 Man Utd players by value, per transfermarkt: 1=. Bruno Fernandes (£60.1m), 1=. Marcus Rashford (£60.1m), 3. Rasmus Hojlund (£55.8m), 4. Lisandro Martinez (£43m), 5. Mason Mount (£38.7m), 6. Andre Onana (£34.3m), 7. Luke Shaw (£32.6m), 8=. Antony (£30m), 8=. Diogo Dalot (£30m), 10=. Casemiro (£25.8m), 10=. Alejandro Garnacho (£25.8m).
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