06 December 2023 , 11:54
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Manchester United's Antony says criticism of his performances from club legends such as Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand has crossed a line, calling it "unfair and malicious".
The Brazilian winger has found his performances placed under a microscope ever since completing a record £85million move from Ajax in the summer of 2022, and has often flattered to deceive given his large price tag.
A favourite of Erik ten Hag, who also managed him at Ajax, Antony has scored just eight goals in 58 United appearances prior to Wednesday night's clash with Chelsea, and with that form prompting criticism from several former United players in the media, the 23-year-old has seen fit to hit back.
"Today, I see criticism coming from former club players and other people in the media, who unreasonably express their opinions and influence thousands of fans, sometimes even when I do not play," he told United fan channel The United Stand.
"But I've never seen them give constructive criticism, which will help me be a better professional. None of them have ever sent me a message to see how I am feeling, especially during this period of turbulence that I am going through. The 'digital court' is ruining lives; contexts are left aside, and the truth no longer matters.
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Antony has scored eight goals in 58 United appearances (PETER POWELL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)"I am silently rebuilding myself, and I know that I will be able to be in my best physical and mental shape and overcome all these barriers and challenges that are in front of me because it has always been like this in my life; no one has ever given me anything, I have always fought hard for everything I achieved! I would like to know how these people who make these unfair and malicious criticisms fared in my place."
Gary Neville is one of the pundits who has criticised Antony (Getty Images)The likes of Neville, Ferdinand and fellow Antony critics Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Andy Cole all enjoyed storied United careers, winning multiple trophies under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sky Sports pundit Neville labelled Antony "embarrassing" for the way he kicked out at Manchester City's Jeremy Doku towards the end of October's 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford, while Ferdinand defended the United fans who booed Antony during last month's 1-0 win at Fulham, calling him "not good enough" at adding that he'd prefer to see Fulham's 35-year-old winger Willian in the United side.
Scholes, who works as a pundit for TNT Sports, has labelled Antony a "one trick pony", while Berbatov has demanded he stop doing "stupid things" on the pitch and Cole has compared him unfavourably to Brighton's Karou Mitoma.