Amorim confirms new plan for Antony after Man Utd transfer stance comes to light

Antony is in the last chance saloon at Manchester United, with boss Ruben Amorim set to play the £82million signing at wing-back ahead of a decisive January transfer window.

Having endured a increasingly difficult two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, Antony started new manager Amorim's first home game in charge. United claimed a nervy 3-2 win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League, having fallen behind to the Norwegian champions.

The Red Devils lined up in Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 formation, with Antony and Tyrell Malacia employed as the two wing-backs. It was a new role for the former Ajax winger, who's reportedly been made available for transfer in January.

But Amorim was seemingly impressed by his performance and in good news for Antony, he'll still get to act as a winger in different phases of the game. Discussing the 24-year-old's display alongside that of substitute Amad, the United boss explained: "Today, Amad and Antony, they acted like a winger, and they stay open.

"What I want is a good one against one, to open the field, to play, to close the field when we lose the ball. And it is the same in every team. I think the structure is more fluid than you guys think with the three defenders."

Amorim, who was successful using a 3-4-3 formation at Sporting Lisbon, added: "Today, we finished today without any centre-backs, so it was Casemiro, [Noussair] Mazraoui and Luke Shaw. I think it is more the characteristics of the players and not the real positions of the players.

"Today, if I ask you guys what system I use, you saw more 4-4-2 [when we were] defending, I think? You agree? Then we put two wide players like the other 20 teams in the league. You have to change the characteristics."

After scoring just 11 goals in his first two seasons, the Brazilian explained how the 2024-25 season could be a fresh start. During an interview with the Telegraph in which he referenced allegations of domestic violence made by his ex-girlfriend, Antony declared: "I'm someone who demands a lot of myself and I was obviously not satisfied with my season but a lot happened over the year in my personal life.

"Like it or not, everything I went through had an effect on the pitch. Everything I went through was very difficult for me and all my family. I've learnt from it all, I've grown and matured. I believe I learnt a lot from the adversity. I learn from everything I go through. That’s why I said I put the past behind me. I matured and grew from it all and this will make me stronger going into this new season."