January 11, (THEWILL) – Manchester United midfielder, Antony, has initiated legal proceedings against Ajax regarding wage deductions imposed during his £86m transfer in August 2022.
The Brazilian international contests multiple financial penalties implemented by the Dutch club, seeking compensation reportedly amounting to several hundred thousand euros.
The dispute stems from Antony’s conduct during the transfer negotiations between Manchester United and Ajax.
The player remained absent from training sessions and missed Ajax’s Eredivisie match against Sparta Rotterdam, despite being physically fit to participate.
Ajax subsequently imposed three separate financial penalties, which Antony’s legal team now claims were “unlawful.”
The transfer, which ranks among United’s most substantial financial outlays, positioned Antony behind only Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku in the club’s transfer history.
The move reunited the Brazilian with Erik ten Hag, who had managed him at Ajax before accepting the managerial position at Old Trafford.
However, Antony’s performance in England’s top flight has fallen short of expectations.
Following an initial burst of success with three goals in his first three EPL appearances, the 24-year-old has managed only two goals in his subsequent 57 matches, raising questions about his future at the club.
The situation has deteriorated further during the 2024/2025 season, with Antony yet to start a League match.
His involvement has been limited to six substitute appearances, totaling just 84 minutes of playing time.
This minimal role has persisted under both former manager Erik ten Hag and current head coach Ruben Amorim.
This legal dispute adds another layer of complexity to Antony’s challenging period in English football, with speculation mounting regarding a potential departure during the January transfer window.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
