'Amorim doesn't know how to coach Antony' says agent in blast at Man Utd boss

Antony’s agent Junior Pedroso has unleashed a fiery defence of the winger saying his strong form at Betis showed he was badly managed by Ruben Amorim.

In an explosive interview with Marca, Pedroso didn’t hold back, accusing Amorim of sidelining the 24-year-old and questioning the Manchester United’s handling of their £86 million investment.

Signed from Ajax in 2022 under Erik ten Hag, Antony was expected to light up the Premier League. Instead, his stint has been a rollercoaster with inconsistency and off-field scrutiny.

Antony featured in 13 of United's matches in all competitions this season before leaving on loan.

"We respect the opinion of coach Ruben Amorim, but we completely disagree with his analysis [of the winger]," said Pedroso. "To attribute Antony's lack of success at Manchester United solely to the question of physicality is a very superficial argument and does not reflect reality.

"The truth is that Antony has not had enough prominence or the confidence necessary to play his best football. Of the 15 games in which Amorim managed Manchester United, he only used Antony in nine, with a total of 252 minutes played. This represents only 18.6% of the total possible minutes (1,350 minutes). How can you judge an athlete without a minimum sequence to prove his worth?

"The manager's statement, although perhaps it was not his intention, ends up devaluing La Liga and the Spanish competitions. Spanish football has one of the most competitive leagues in the world, with top-level teams that constantly compete in the final stages of the Champions League and the Europa League.

"The reality is that Antony, since he arrived at Real Betis, has become one of the best players in the team and in the competition itself, demonstrating his full potential when given the right conditions to develop his game. This highlights that the problem was not the physicality, but the context and the way he was managed in Manchester.

"Many players who do not prosper at United find success at other clubs, which leads us to wonder if the problem really lies with the players."

He argued that Antony’s Ajax form—where he thrived under Amorim’s predecessor Ten Hag—proves his quality, suggesting the current 3-4-3 system doesn’t suit his client. “He’s a winger, not a wing-back,” Pedroso snapped.

Antony’s off-field woes, including a now-dropped domestic abuse investigation, haven’t helped his case, but Pedroso insists the winger’s focus remains sharp.

At £200,000 a week, United’s hierarchy faces a dilemma: back Amorim’s vision or appease a player who’s yet to justify his price tag. For now, Antony’s future hangs in the balance—will he fight for his spot or force a dramatic exit? The saga’s heating up at Old Trafford.