Antony may be forced to wear a number he’s never worn in his professional career if he completes his £84 million move from Ajax to Manchester United before the transfer window closes.
Antony will be denied his dream shirt number if he joins Manchester United in the coming days.
United are said to have agreed on a fee of £85 million with Ajax for the 22-year-old Brazilian. The Dutch champions did not want to sell Antony, who is on strike and missed their 2-0 away win against Utrecht on Sunday, but have now reluctantly agreed to part ways with their star.
United manager Erik ten Hag brought Antony to Ajax two years ago. In 57 Eredivisie games since then, he’s scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists, winning two league titles and one cup. He’s also made it into Brazil’s senior team, earning nine caps so far.
At Ajax, Antony wears the No.11 jersey, but he won’t be able to do so at Old Trafford because Mason Greenwood already has it, though the United striker is currently unavailable for selection.
Antony also prefers the No.39 jersey, which he wore at his first club in Sao Paulo and during his first season at Ajax. Scott McTominay, who has worn the jersey since breaking into the first-team squad five years ago, wears it at United.
If Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the club this month, Antony could take his place. The Portuguese superstar wants to leave Old Trafford to play in the Champions League, and his future is uncertain. During the 2018/19 season, Antony wore the No.7 jersey for Sao Paulo.
If Ronaldo stays, Antony will almost certainly be forced to wear a number he’s never worn in his professional career. The No.15, which was last worn by his compatriot Andreas Pereira, is a viable option. The midfielder moved to Fulham earlier this summer.
Nemanja Vidic, who formed a legendary defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand at Old Trafford during Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure, made the No.15 famous. Jesper Blomqvist, a member of the 1998/99 treble-winning team, also wore the number.
Another possibility is the No.21 jersey, which was left vacant by Edinson Cavani at the end of last season. That shirt has previously been worn by Ander Herrera and Dan James. Other options include Nos. 24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, and 35.
Ajax are don’t want to lose Antony after selling the likes of Sebastien Haller, Nicolas Tagliafico, Perr Schuurs, Ryan Gravenberch, and Lisandro Martinez earlier this summer, with the latter joining Ten Hag at Old Trafford. Yet £84m might be too much to turn down.
“The Antony situation hasn’t changed compared to last week,” Schreuder told ESPN on Sunday afternoon. “We discuss it internally every day, also with the player. He reports himself at the club and we speak. But I want to focus on the players we have here, for now, Antony is not important.”
Speaking after United’s 1-0 away win against Southampton on Saturday afternoon, Ten Hag said: “If a good player is available, we will strike because we want to strengthen the squad. We will be alert until the last second of the window.” United are now understood to have agreed to a deal worth £85m to bring the forward to Old Trafford.
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