Revealed: Man Utd scouts initially valued Antony at £25m - before Erik ten Hag's pressure helped convince them to pay Ajax £86m

United's recruitment and transfer policy have faced severe criticism, prompting expectations of a departmental overhaul following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's anticipated investment in the club. Antony's signing in the last summer transfer window, under former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, raised eyebrows due to the hefty £86m ($109m) price tag, especially considering his modest performances.

According to The Athletic,the Brazilian winger was initially valued at £25 ($32m) million during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's managerial tenure, a figure deemed appropriate for a player of his calibre. However, Ten Hag's influence redirected recruitment efforts towards Ajax alumni, with Antony's approval and the simultaneous arrival of Lisandro Martinez.

Transfer negotiations initially saw United reluctant to exceed £60m ($76m), but desperation reportedly set in during the final days of the transfer window. This led to a substantial increase in the valuation, culminating in the club breaking its estimations and splurging over £20m ($25.5) more.

Paul Pogba remains Manchester United's costliest acquisition to date after he joined from Juventus for a whopping £89m ($113m).

With just eight goals in 62 appearances, Antony's performance has fallen short of the astronomical fee paid for his services. The Brazilian is yet to score or assist this campaign despite playing over 1000 minutes across all competitions. He has a contract at Old Trafford until 2027. However, the Red Devils are already planning to get his replacement and have narrowed down on Japanese sensation Takefusa Kubo.