Surprise move as Antony takes club to court

Manchester United winger Antony has launched legal action against his former club Ajax over alleged wage disputes.

The Brazilian, who joined United in the summer of 2022, reportedly missed training sessions and Ajax’s third league game of the season while pushing for his transfer to Old Trafford. United eventually secured his signature for a hefty £85.5 million fee.

At the time, Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder addressed the situation, telling ESPN: “I only want players who are fully focused on Ajax. We have talked about it, and I think it is a difficult situation.”

According to the Daily Mail, Antony claims Ajax “unlawfully” fined him during the period leading up to his transfer. The winger alleges that the club docked a significant amount from his wages, even after the deal with United was completed.

Dutch newspaper AD reports that Antony says the fines amount to “a few hundred thousand euros.” A source close to the case has confirmed that the deductions were indeed substantial.

The case is being overseen by the arbitration committee of the Dutch football association, with hearings beginning on Monday in Zeist, near Utrecht. Antony first brought the matter to the arbitration committee six months ago. Decisions in similar cases are usually delivered within a month after the hearing.

Since his high-profile move to Manchester United, Antony has had a mixed spell at Old Trafford. While he scored on his debut in a 3-1 victory against Arsenal, the Brazilian has struggled to deliver consistently, managing just 12 goals across all competitions in three seasons.

As fans await the outcome of Antony’s legal battle with Ajax, it remains to be seen how the case will impact his performances and future at United.