Manchester United (opens in a new tab) Icon Paul Scholes called Antony’s summer arrival “a bit of a one-trick pony”.
Brasil (opens in a new tab) the winger became United’s second most expensive signing of all time when he joined Ajax (opens in a new tab) for an initial fee of £82m on deadline day.
And while the 22-year-old stood out with goals on his debut against Arsenal (opens in a new tab) and in Sunday’s derby against Manchester City (opens in a new tab), Scholes believes he still has a lot to learn. The 11-time Premier League winner has also identified a potential reason why Jadon Sancho (United’s most expensive signing the previous summer) has largely disappointed since his move to Old Trafford.
speaking on BT Sports ahead of United’s hard-fought 3-2 Europa League win over Omonia Nicosia on Thursday night, Scholes said (opens in a new tab):
“Sancho never really runs behind. He really needs a quick left-back or a centre-forward to connect with and he doesn’t really have that at the moment.
Antony on the other side too, he doesn’t run behind. He seems like a bit of a one trick pony. He always cuts inside and passes to the back or has a shot. You think he needs to develop a bit. It’s still early for him; we know that.”
Scholes reflected on United’s 6-3 humiliation at City last time out in the Premier League. The result clearly ended a run of four consecutive league wins for Erik ten Hag’s side and showed just how far they still have to go to compete for the top honours.
Then for Ten Hag and co. is a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton (opens in a new tab) Sunday evening.
