Simon Jordan SAVAGES ‘waste of money’ Man United man and says ‘everything about him has been poor’ since arrival

Simon Jordan has heavily criticized Manchester United winger Antony, calling the club’s second most expensive signing a “waste of money.”

The Brazilian arrived at Old Trafford from Ajax in 2022 amid great anticipation, but that excitement quickly diminished. He scored only eight goals in 45 appearances during his first season, with fans often questioning his decision-making, particularly after netting just one league goal following his initial three matches.

His situation deteriorated in his second season, where he scored only three times in 38 games, contributing to United’s disappointing eighth-place finish. After limited playing time in the current season, Jordan expressed his thoughts on the 24-year-old with TalkSport listeners.

“There’s always pressure and expectation when you spend a lot on players; you naturally expect big results,” he remarked. “A £25m player failing doesn’t attract as much attention, but in Antony’s case, even at that price, he would still be considered a poor buy due to his overall performance. What has he brought to Manchester United besides headlines? Certainly nothing on the pitch. At £25m, you’d call it a waste; at £85m, you have to question the manager’s decision to sign him, especially knowing him well.”

Antony recently had his best outing of the season, albeit in his only start, playing the full 90 minutes in a 7-0 EFL Cup win against Barnsley, where he scored a penalty to double United’s lead in a match that featured eight changes from their previous 3-0 victory over Southampton.

To secure his position, Antony will need to consistently deliver such performances, as he currently trails Amad Diallo on the right wing. The former Ajax player is now among familiar faces after Erik Ten Hag, who coached him at both clubs, brought in reinforcements from the Dutch side, including André Onana and Lisandro Martinez.

Recent reports indicated that the summer signing of Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich, also a former Ajax player, was influenced by the potential chemistry with Antony on the right flank.

Antony was one of the most significant signings in United’s history, but he is not alone in failing to meet expectations. The club’s record signings highlight their recent transfer difficulties. Paul Pogba joined in 2016 for a world-record fee of £89m but did not fulfill expectations, resulting in an uncertain final three years with the club. Harry Maguire, purchased for £80m from Leicester in 2019, and Jadon Sancho, who transferred from Borussia Dortmund for £73m two years later, also belong to this group.