Will Antony return to Ajax in January?

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According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are looking to offload former Ajax winger Antony in the January transfer window. It seems they are prepared to allow him to leave on a permanent or temporary basis in the near future.

An interesting line from the story suggests that Ajax are one of the clubs interested in taking him in the winter transfer window.

Antony has struggled at United since his move

antony playing for man united
Ardfern, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Brazilian winger joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2022 for a transfer fee of around £82m after impressing with the Dutch giants in the Eredivisie.

He has made 86 appearances in all competitions for the men from Manchester, scoring just 12 goals and producing just five assists.

However, it wasn’t just his lack of goals that has been concerning, though, as, at times, he struggled for game time. He has failed to get on the pitch in seven of United’s 11 games in all competitions in season 2024/25. His only start of the campaign came against League One Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.

The winger doesn’t seem like the same player who lit up games for two seasons with Ajax or who showed such potential at his first professional club, Sao Paulo.

He seemed to enjoy playing football at Ajax, which obviously helped him to start fulfilling his potential. His exciting performances for the Dutch giants were what enticed the Devils to shell out the massive fee for the winger in the first place.

His record of 25 goals in 82 competitive appearances for the Dutch team was slightly better than at Manchester United. He was also a big provider of goals, as he produced 24 assists for the club in all competitions.

He would be a massive signing for Ajax

Antony was obviously a big player for Ajax when he was at the club. His skills got fans off their seats at the Johan Cruyff Arena, which, as a fanbase, they live for in Amsterdam. He also played a big part in his team winning the Eredivisie on two occasions and the KNVB Cup once.

The winger seems like someone who needs to be loved and wanted to perform at his best. He doesn’t seem to have that at Manchester United.

His signing has been touted as one of the worst in the Manchester club’s history, which just illustrates how badly his spell with United has gone so far.

Not many players recover from his current position to become a star player again for their team. From the evidence so far of his United career, he looks unlikely to find his best form with the Red Devils.

A return to his old club, even on a temporary basis, could well reignite his playing career. Ajax are slightly short on wingers after the summer departures of Carlos Forbs and Steven Bergwijn to Wolves and Al-Ittihad, respectively.

In an interview in September, former Liverpool and England midfielder Jordan Henderson even lamented the fact that the Dutch giants sold players on transfer deadline day without replacing them

His words caused some controversy, but Henderson only stated facts. The sales of Forbs and Bergwijn did make Ajax weaker as a team and a squad, even if the Amsterdam giants have made a decent start to the season.

Is Ajax likely to sign Antony during the January transfer window?

The thought of Antony returning to Ajax may please fans of the club, as unlike Manchester United, he still seems to be a popular figure at the Dutch club.

However, it seems like an unlikely move for the Brazilian international winger. Ajax won’t be willing to pay a massive transfer fee in January to re-sign him or even a hefty loan fee, which is likely what the Red Devils would demand.

Then there is the likelihood of competition from Premier League clubs. The same report states that Ajax is reportedly interested in signing the winger and acknowledges interest from the English top-flight duo Crystal Palace and Newcastle United.

While the Eagles may not prove that attractive a proposition, the Magpies could be a more enticing option. Although they are not enjoying the best of seasons, the north east club could still offer the winger Champions League football. There would also be an opportunity to showcase his skills in front of packed houses wherever he played with Eddie Howe’s team.

Antony likely appreciates his time in Amsterdam. However, the move to Manchester United was supposed to help him further develop and move in the right direction for his career. A move back to Ajax may make it feel like he is admitting that he has failed to perform at United.

As big a club as Ajax is in history, its current iteration is in a massive transition period.

They are attempting to recover from a torrid 2023/24 campaign, and it remains to be seen if they will even be able to challenge for the Eredivisie title in the current campaign.

Some may see it differently like Antony has failed at United, so the Dutch giants would be taking a risk by re-signing him in the winter transfer window, especially if they have to pay a decent fee and pay the majority of his hefty wages.

Either way, it seems unlikely that the Brazilian international winger will be returning to the Dutch capital anytime soon, even if there is speculation over the possibility.