Erik ten Hag filled up the United squad with his former favourite players from the Ajax era, a strategy that hasn’t exactly impressed Manchester United fans. Now, a Dutch journalist says Ten Hag wanted another Ajax player for Old Trafford, a signing that could almost have been in the “Antony class”.
Although Antnony is banging on with goals in La Liga on loan at Real Betis, Ten Hag’s favourite player got so many chances at United that the “most expensive flop in club history” label easily finds its footing on Antony’s back. According to Voetbal Primeur journalist Valteijin Driessen, Ten Hag pressured the United management to pull up €40 million for Brian Brobbey (on loan to Ajax from RB Leipzig), which the player himself confirms.
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“Erik ten Hag called me and said that my agent at United would get millions of euros and that I could earn several times as much Ajax salary as I had, but the decision was clear: I wanted to go to Ajax,” Brobbey told Football 365 in 2024.
Although Brobbey enjoyed great success in the Eredivisie with over 31 goals, the striker has shown a spectacular dip in form this season. In 41 games, Brobbey stands with a total of 8 goals, fewer than even Rasmus Hojlund at Manchester United.
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Now the Dutch journalist believes Ajax will struggle hard to get more than 10 million euros for Brobbey in a sale.
Sounds like Manchester United fans should be happy that Brobbey turned down the offer from Ten Hag back in 2022.
