The agent of Manchester United winger Antony has strongly disagreed with Ruben Amorim’s comments about the Brazilian’s struggles at Old Trafford. Antony, who joined Real Betis on loan in January, has had an impressive start with three goals and two assists in seven games, a form that Amorim attributed to the lower physicality of La Liga.
In an interview with MARCA, Antony’s agent, Junior Pedroso, expressed frustration with Amorim’s assessment. “We respect Amorim’s opinion, but we completely disagree with his analysis,” Pedroso said.
He argued that attributing Antony’s difficulties at Manchester United solely to physicality was an oversimplified view.
Pedroso pointed out that Antony struggled at United not because of the league’s physical demands, but due to a lack of opportunities and confidence.
“Out of the 15 games Amorim managed at United, he only played Antony in nine, with just 252 minutes. That’s only 18.6% of the total available minutes. How can you judge a player without giving him a fair chance?”
Instead, Pedroso believes Antony’s recent form at Betis is due to being under a manager who provided him with the right support and conditions to thrive.
He also took issue with Amorim’s comments on La Liga, stating that Spanish football is one of the most competitive leagues in the world, with top teams consistently competing in major European competitions.
Ultimately, Pedroso emphasized that Antony’s success at Betis proves that the issue at United wasn’t physicality, but rather the context and management under which he was playing.
He pointed out that many players who struggle at United go on to find success at other clubs, raising questions about whether the issue truly lies with the players themselves.
