It wasn't me! Erik ten Hag breaks silence on Manchester United's disastrous €100m Antony transfer
Erik ten Hag has sparked a fresh debate about one of Manchester United's most controversial transfers! The former Red Devils manager has reportedly insisted that he was not responsible for negotiating the enormous €100 million deal that brought Brazilian winger Antony to Old Trafford.
Details: According to The Touchline, Ten Hag has addressed questions surrounding Antony's expensive transfer from Ajax in 2022. The Dutch coach denied personally conducting the negotiations and explained that other people were responsible for handling the agreement. His comments have reignited discussion about who should take responsibility for the costly signing.
Manchester United signed Antony from Ajax in the summer of 2022 for approximately €100 million, making him one of the most expensive players in the club's history. The Brazilian had previously worked with Ten Hag in Amsterdam, where the pair enjoyed considerable success before reuniting in England.
However, Antony struggled to justify his enormous price tag. Despite arriving with high expectations, the winger failed to consistently reproduce his Ajax performances in the Premier League. His disappointing spell eventually led to a loan move to Real Betis in January 2025.
In a separate interview, Ten Hag also explained that he was generally not involved in the financial aspects of United's transfer negotiations. While managers could identify targets and attempt to convince players to join, the financial terms were handled elsewhere. Antony eventually completed a permanent move to Real Betis in 2025, leaving behind one of United's most heavily criticised transfer deals.
Reminder: Antony accused Manchester United of disrespect before completing his permanent move to Real Betis.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
