‘Who sanctioned that?!’ – Paul Merson slams Manchester United transfer decision

Paul Merson has slammed Manchester United’s decision to spend £80m on Antony and says the club should bring in Gary Neville or Rio Ferdinand to deal with recruitment.

Brazilian winger Antony completed a 95m euros move to Old Trafford in 2022 after two promising years at Ajax.

Given his price-tag, United would have hoped for Antony to develop into one of the club’s most consistent performers and a star of the Premier League.

But the 24-year-old has instead failed to replicate his best form for Manchester United, finding himself out of the team more often than not this season.

Merson has questioned who sanctioned United’s big-money move for Antony, claiming he would not be worth £40m if he was sold today.

The Arsenal legend in fact struggles to recall any recent successful signings Manchester United have completed and believes the club would benefit from the input of club legends Neville and Ferdinand.

‘There must have been a plan at the start of the season,’ Merson told Sky Sports when asked about the uncertainty at the club and the scrutiny around Erik ten Hag’s future.

‘Maybe they’re looking at it like a five-year project. United aren’t going to catch City and Arsenal in a year so they have to be patient. It’s going to take time, United need to start walking again never mind running.

‘The one thing that worries me is who has come into that club and looks like a success? I mean, Antony was £80m.

‘Have you picked yourself up yet or have you fallen over? I thought you’d fall over when I said Antony was £80m! That just sums it all up.

‘I just don’t know what they’ve done with some of these transfers. I would have put someone like Gary Neville in charge of the recruitment.

‘Gary has been at that club all his career, and he knows football from the inside out. You put someone like him in charge, even Rio Ferdinand, someone like that or even both of them together, and you go “right, we want to build this club- what players should we be bringing in?”

‘But the players that have come in… £80m for Antony, who sanctioned that?! I don’t want to be horrible but I watched him in Holland. He goes down the wing and he cuts inside, he did it every week in Holland.

‘In the Premier League almost every single full-back is an international player and they work you out. £80m, you can’t even swallow that and get £40m for him because you won’t even get that.’

Antony is yet to start a Premier League game this season and, speaking last month, Ten Hag admitted his signing had to ‘earn the right’ to play for the club.

‘He’s impatient,’ said the under pressure Manchester United boss. ‘He wants to play.

‘But in top football there are laws. You pick the team that has most chance to win the game, the one with the best dynamic, the best chemistry. Players have to fight for their positions.

‘The other players are doing so well – they’re contributing. He has to get over them. He has to earn the right in training.’

Manchester United are just 14th in the Premier League having won only two of their opening seven games of the season.

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