EPL: Manchester United and Ajax agree to transfer Antony for 100 million euros

LONDON, United Kingdom – In the process of attracting Brazilian striker Antony from Ajax for 100 million euros, Manchester United have once again dipped into the Amsterdam reservoir to the delight of Dutch coach Erik ten Hag , an arrival likely to have repercussions on the Cristiano Ronaldo case.

« Manchester United have reached an agreement with Ajax for the transfer of Antony, which remains subject to a medical examination, the finalization of the terms of the contract with the player and the international (administrative) formalities », wrote the Reds on Tuesday. Devils.

Ajax specifies in its press release that the sum is broken down into 95 M EUR of fixed payment and 5 M EUR of various bonuses.

This amount, which would be the biggest transfer in history for a player playing in the Dutch league, local media said, surprised the English side, but it shows how much the club wanted to please its new coach.

Three previous offers were turned down by Ajax, where ten Hag played last season

Top priority of ten Hag

But the technician had made the 22-year-old his absolute offensive priority, after having already brought to Old Trafford the Argentinian international defender Lisandro Martinez, also a defector from Ajax, for 67 M EUR bonus included and Tyrell Malacia, side left from Feyenoord, for 17 M EUR.

With Antony, Manchester’s summer transfer window is coming to an end, at least in terms of arrivals. We are only waiting for the probable loan of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from Newcastle to be the understudy for David De Gea, who could be completed before Thursday.

The Red Devils have strengthened in all their lines with also the arrivals in midfield of the Brazilian Casemiro, from Real Madrid, for more than 80 M EUR, while the Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen had signed free.

In the sense of departures, however, there remains the thorny question of the future of Cristiano Ronaldo who has not made any secret, for weeks, of his desires elsewhere.

The insoluble equation of Cristiano Ronaldo

Less than three months from the World Cup, the Portuguese absolutely wants to play in the Champions League but he is struggling to find a base to satisfy both his sporting and financial desires, as well as those of Manchester United, which has never said willing for him to leave.

“We are counting on him. So we want him to stay, “ten Hag lip serviced again after the victory at Southampton (1-0) where he had nevertheless relegated “CR7” for the second game in a row on the bench.

The compatibility of the Portuguese with the game wanted by his coach remains subject to strong guarantees, unlike that of Antony, who will probably hardly need time to assimilate his role, even if the discovery of the Premier League will be, it , probably more difficult.

Also with Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Anthony Elanga as offensive options, Manchester United could be less inflexible on a possible departure, even if the workforce is far from bloated.

But can the Red Devils afford the luxury of relegating their biggest salary to a mere substitute, even if it has been cut by a quarter due to not qualifying for the Champions League?

There is no simple answer to this equation and everyone will have to try to agree on the lesser evil.