The Paper's reporter Chen Jun
00:58
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Anthony played for Ajax. (00:58)
United struck again, getting Ajax's Brazilian attacker Anthony anthony for €100 million (95 million fixed transfer fee + 5 million floats) on a contract until 2027, plus a one-year renewal option.
The deal attracted attention not only because of the staggering price tag – according to British media such as the Daily Mail, this is also United's last bet in the transfer market this summer, and the Red Devils will not do any other reinforcements except for the goalkeeper position.
Whether it's a transfer fee or a signing plan, Anthony is like a real man in United's mind, but everything seems less convincing.
What is the level of this Anthony?
United paid for Anthony's history of transfers.
The data is the same as the foreign aid of the Chinese Super League
On the Transfer Market website, Anthony is valued at just €35 million.
Since landing in The Dutch League in 2020, the Brazilian striker has made a total of 82 appearances for Ajax, scoring 24 goals and assisting 22, and 21 starts last season, scoring 8 goals and assisting 4.
Even if the Brazilian is only 22 years old and can be used as a potential stock, it is really expensive for Manchester United to pay 100 million euros, which is also a new record for the transfer of players in the Dutch League.
In the first place, Arsenal star Paul Merson said that he did not understand the transfer, and as a winger, he felt that Manchester United signed Newcastle Saint-Maximin better than anthony, and he also stressed that Anthony could not bring qualitative changes to Manchester United's frontcourt.
Antony was the old ministry of Tenhag.
'Although Sancho didn't really do anything after he arrived, signing Anthony means you'll be buying a player who has been playing against a defender of average quality (the lower level of competition in the Eredivisie)."
It is worth mentioning that compared to Sancho's big kills in the Bundesliga that year (137 appearances scored 50 goals and assisted 64), Anthony's data is simply not enough to see.
Even Cuarón, who joined Shanghai Harbor on his own this season, has 5 goals and 9 assists in the Dutch League...
Even United's own family is suspicious of the transfer, Scholes said: "Now you have to buy a good young man, you are bound to pay too much price, Chelsea are doing similar things all summer, Anthony is Tenghag's favorite player, they have worked together before. ”
"But I still want to say, is he good enough?" He scored some goals in the Netherlands, but the Dutch First Division was much easier than the Premier League. ”
Anthony was actually more expensive than Sancho.
United were in a hurry, he was in a hurry
In recent years, in the Premier League, "Mr. Billion" is not uncommon, Sancho let Manchester United spend 85 million euros, and Manchester City's Glalish spent a hundred million euros, but considering their Premier League account book, Anthony from Brazil is a bit outrageously expensive.
Knowing that Haaland's transfer fee for landing in the Premier League is only 60 million euros, why did Manchester United make a deal that everyone could not understand? In part, the acquisition is more like a panic draw-up for the club.
It's no secret that Tenhag has favored his old ministry since he joined Old Trafford, having previously allowed United to get Martinez from Ajax for up to €67 million.
According to the media, Anthony's initial bargain was only about 60 million euros, but as Chelsea joined the competition, Manchester United became less determined and ready to prepare for the new season with the existing set of squads - but with the disastrous start of the season, Manchester United felt the pressure and had to continue to work on reinforcements.
As the transfer window closes into the countdown, United, which lack more options, somewhat lose square inches, 80 million euros! 90 million euros! After several unsuccessful offers, watching Ajax raise Anthony's value all the way to 100 million euros, Manchester United, which had no room for manoeuvre, had to comply.
Not long ago, for the 30-year-old Casemiro paid a transfer fee of 82 million euros, Manchester United's current operation is the same - the world knows that you have to strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes.
The key center problem is still not solved
For Manchester United's crazy move to "send money" to Ajax this summer, many fans questioned whether Tenghag had taken kickbacks in it.
There are even fans who believe that when Tenhag leaves at Manchester United, he will be able to return to Ajax and use the money sent by Manchester United to build a new team again...
Manchester United's demotion even BBC Dutch football journalist Elko Born couldn't stand it, "It's really crazy. How many Champions League games has Anthony played? How many of these Champions League games has he been validated? How to prove that Anthony is better than Rashford and Sancho? What is a reasonable explanation for such a sky-high transfer fee? ”
The dude even said on social media that Van Der Sar (CEO of Ajax) should take care of his old club, "let Manchester United calm down." ”
Anthony's data is not pretty good.
The question now is, has United, which has been burning a lot of money, found its own answer?
From the position point of view, Anthony is a winger, and even if his role is not the same as the existing attackers of Manchester United, he cannot assume the role of center forward, and in the middle of the road, Manchester United can only rely on the existing candidates.
In the latest main squad of the British media for Manchester United, Anthony and Sancho are on both sides, and the center is Martial, which is a short position compared to Manchester United's competitors.
Some people must think of Ronaldo, the main center of last season has been seeking a transfer, and if he does not get what he wants, he is likely not in Tenhag's starting plan, and the last two rounds have been pressed on the bench.
To a certain extent, if Tenghag wants to really open up the situation, he can only expect this attack line to produce some kind of positive chemical reaction.
Looking back, the hesitation on the issue of C Ronaldo's stay has laid the groundwork for Manchester United's irrational transfer today, because of the existence of C Ronaldo, the United executives once fantasized that they did not need to make a big investment in the center and even the entire front, even if this is not the player that the manager needs the most, even if C Ronaldo himself is also interested.
If this hundred million can be laid out in advance and spent on the blade, Manchester United will never fall into this step.
Of course, it is too early to assert that Anthony is a failed signing, but to expect the players to play the price, I am afraid that the United executives will not have a score in their hearts.
Editor-in-Charge: Ascendas
Proofreader: Shi Gong