Manchester United must get back to work just after the international break. A Premier League clash against treacherous Brighton awaits, followed by Bayern Munich as the opponent in the Champions League. But coach Erik ten Hag may have to miss one of his strongmen.
United announced on Sunday via official club channels that Antony will not return to the selection for the time being. The Brazilian wing attacker was taken over from Ajax in the summer of 2022 and grew into a permanent basic force. But currently he is embroiled in a domestic violence case.
Gabriela Cavallin, his former girlfriend, accuses Antony of multiple physical assaults against her. At the beginning of this month, an interview with her was published in which she detailed the accusations. Those accusations were supported by several WhatsApp messages and photos.
Official investigation
In Brazil, the case is being taken seriously and a judicial investigation has now been launched. In this context, Antony was already selected for the Brazilian national team at the beginning of this week. And now his employer also decides to take further steps.
In a short statement, United provided more explanation for this decision. “It has been agreed with Antony that his return to us will be postponed pending investigations. As a club we condemn violence and abuse. We value the safety of all victims involved in these types of cases.”
Joint decision?
The attacker himself has also responded to the news via his social media channels. According to him, it is a mutual decision. “I have jointly decided with Manchester United to take a period of absence while I address the allegations against me. This was a joint decision to avoid any distraction for my teammates and cause unnecessary controversy for the club,” the statement said. “I want to prove my innocence and I will fully cooperate to find out the truth.”
An update on Antony.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 10, 2023
