The £85 million price tag in 2022 has followed Antony through the seasons with Erik ten Hag as United manager. This summer and autumn, reports have come from the ball island that Manchester United are ready to “cut their losses” and sell Antony for a few tens of millions of pounds. With Ruben Amorim at the helm, the situation could change.

Manchester United cannot afford players in the squad who do not deliver, but it is also not a desirable situation to sell at a massive loss. Ruben Amorim came in in November and saw no reason to judge individual players until they have had the opportunity to adapt to Amorim football. For Antony, this means a new opportunity.

Against Bodø/Glimt, Antony was on the pitch as a wing-back, the same as a substitute in the city derby against Manchester City.

-When we started, everyone started from scratch. We spent about a month explaining that everything has a new beginning because every person deserves a new beginning and the power is in their hands, because if they show it, I will put them in the game. I just want to win. They are responsible for playing, not me. Antony did a good job of improving in that position. He has to defend more, but he has the ability to do it and has to do it himself,” Amorim told talkSPORT.

Antony gets his opportunity, but has to understand he is also part of the United defence. The most obvious exit for a Manchester United player is no longer so obvious.