Manchester United flop Antony ‘needs time’ to adapt to the Premier League despite being at the club for almost two years, according to Ryan Babel.
United splashed out £86m to sign Antony from Ajax back in 2022 but the Brazilian winger has been in horrific form this season.
Antony has produced just one single goal and one single assist across 27 Premier League games for the Red Devils in the 2023-24 campaign.
The 24-year-old recently faced criticism for goading Coventry City players in the FA Cup while he has tried his best to distract fans from his poor performances.
Former Liverpool star Babel, though, a former teammate of Antony, has issued a defence of the winger and still feels he can become a ‘great’ player for United.
‘A player like Antony needs time to adapt in England,’ Babel told Ladbrokes Fanzone.
‘He’s 24 now, and I think he learned a lot – the hard way – this season. The gap between Holland and the Premier League is massive.
‘So the things that have worked for him in the Eredivisie, haven’t necessarily worked for him in England.
‘I definitely believe he’s learned things the hard way, but he’ll soon be able to reset and prepare again for next season.
‘I’m sure he’ll learn from his mistakes, and if he gets the chance, he can still be great for Manchester United.
‘Knowing what he’s capable of, and taking into consideration what’s been a really challenging year for him, if Antony is able to score at least 10 goals next season, that should be considered a decent campaign for him.
‘We don’t know how much he’ll play next season, but 10 goals, for me, is an acceptable return for him.
‘Especially when you consider what other players in similar positions are delivering.’
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