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Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 23:40
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Marc Overmars has set his sights on Antony. The football affairs director of Ajax has had the nineteen-year-old winger on the radar for some time and, according to Globo Esporte have now placed an offer with São Paulo. Who is Antony, the wing flash that is on the list of many clubs? Former goalkeeper Rogerio Céni knew for sure last year. “Antony is a great talent. The very best newcomer to the Brazilian league this season,” said São Paulo legend about Antony, who has already released an e-book about his early career.
By Tim Siekman
Antony has been linked to Ajax since the summer of 2018. The Amsterdammers follow the talent intensively, but a transfer is not yet under discussion. Overmars has to deal with fierce competition. Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Olympique Lyon, OGC Nice, AC Milan, Internazionale and AS Roma, among others, have already been associated with the growth brilliant. It is said that Ajax would like to strike quickly and bring Antony to the Eredivisie. The earlier transfer from David Neres to the Johan Cruijff ArenA may offer an advantage.
In January 2017, Neres left the current employer of Antony for an adventure in Amsterdam. After a somewhat difficult negotiation process, Ajax managed to reach an agreement with São Paulo, which touched a maximum of fifteen million euros with the transfer. Neres took major steps at Ajax by, among other things, acting in the Champions League and reporting to the national team. Now Ajax is once again looking after a player of the number six in Brazil, a talent that is often compared to Neres. Ajax will, however, have to pay considerably more for top talent than Neres, that is the expectation.
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Antony after his goal in the 3-1 win against Chili Onder-23 in September 2019.
According to both Soccer International if it Algemeen Dagblad asks the Brazilian club twenty million while The Telegraph writes that the asking price of thirty million for ‘not even all rights’ is too much for the people of Amsterdam. Globo Esporte also writes about an amount of thirty million euros, while the official escape clause would be fifty million. The Brazilian club wants to at least enjoy the qualities of Antony. They do not want to say goodbye to the attacker until next summer, who will be detained until mid-2024.
“This is a dream come true”
Antony, affiliated with São Paulo since 2010, has already made a name for himself in youth. With the Under-20 he excelled at various youth tournaments, making him appear on the radar of European clubs. In November 2018 his big dream came true: debuting for the main force of O Clube da Fé. “It’s a day that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” Antony said to Grêmio after the 1-1 draw. “From an early age I go to the stadium, I am always one São Paulino been. My aunt always took me to the competition. That I have now made my debut is a dream come true. This is the best moment of my life. “
Se liga na crueldade do Antony … Peri ainda tentou fechar as pernas, mas a caneta já tinha ido pra conta. Siga Ituano x São Paulo https://t.co/gpEFtXl5F5 pic.twitter.com/5vHtEmkwsl
– globoesportecom (@globoesportecom) March 27, 2019
After his debut, the left leg received many congratulations, also from his great example Lucas Moura. The 27-year-old attacker from Tottenham Hotspur, also a youth product from São Paulo, maintains a warm bond with the young winger. Moura even wrote the preface to the e-book of Antony, which the latter launched last year. In the virtual diary, Antony tells what he, like Moura, had to abandon all and had to do to make his dream of acting for the main force of São Paulo come true.
The fact that Moura and Antony have the same management ensures an even closer relationship between the two attackers, according to the youth. “I received many messages after my debut. But one message was very special to me: that of Lucas Moura, an idol in São Paulo,” said Antony about Moura, who, like Neres, is compared to the young right winger. All have a lot of speed, a dribble and good technology. “His message gave me strength and peace. It is always good to hear from an experienced man how to approach competitions. He is someone who inspires me immensely through his humility and work ethic. I thank him for his beautiful words.”
“It is a pleasure to see Antony at work”
Antony has so far played 33 games for the São Paulo main force, in which he was good for 4 goals and 6 assists. In addition to his performance at club level, the attacker also shows himself at youth international matches. Last summer Antony acted with the national team that won the prestigious youth tournament Toulon Tournament in France. São Paulo received criticism from the fans that the club let Antony go to the tournament while the Brazilian competition was still in full swing, but the leadership must have had in mind that the presence of the youth in France was a big financial blow to the could lead the future.
Ajax, the youth has the Future
Many people predict Antony to have an even bigger future than Moura and Neres, and according to Marcelo Texeira this is completely justified. The former scout of Manchester United for South America is opposite Bleacher Report lyrical about the top talent. “Antony is a magic player. He is a player you expect him to be something else is doing. He is very technical and can dribble great. It is a pleasure to see him at work, “said Texeira, who was also the head of Fluminense’s youth academy for many years.” I think he is one of Brazil’s greatest promises. He has everything to reach the world top. “
The attacker is happy with all the compliments, but realizes that he still has a long way to go. In Europe in particular, he will have to look better, he says. “I am almost ready to leave my mark. At every training, in every competition, I am always committed 100 percent. I give my life for my team,” said Antony, who identified some areas for improvement. “I have to improve my right leg. I just think it’s not good enough. I also have to work on my finishing. Those are fundamental things that I have to work on.”
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