23 April 2023 , 11:25
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Paul Scholes has claimed that Antony has the potential to become a "huge player" for Manchester United - just months after claiming that the Brazilian winger was a "clown".
The Ajax winger has struggled to live up to expectations since moving to Old Trafford in a blockbuster £89million deal back in the summer, with Scholes one of Antony's harshest critics.
The United legend slammed Antony for doing ridiculous tricks in the Europa League earlier in the season and has questioned the wide-man's limited impact in front of goal. But Scholes has now changed his tune after an upturn in Antony's form in recent weeks.
Speaking on BT Sport earlier this week, Scholes said of Antony: "It took some convincing from me, especially after the start of the season, but I think since that Everton game at home [on April 8] he has become a different player.
"I felt he became a bit predictable, always coming in on his left foot and he needed to add different dimensions to his game and I think in the Everton game he did that. He started to run in behind Ben Godfrey, he did it two or three times and was clean through on goal but didn’t quite get the goal. He started to beat people on the outside and now his confidence is there and he’s starting to look like the player we all expected."
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Antony grabbed a goal and an assist in last weekend's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest to take his tally of goal contributions to 14 (10 goals, four assists). And Scholes has stressed that nobody will any complaints about any other "silly" stuff as long as the United star keeps producing the goods in front of goal.
Join the debate! What have you made of Antony's form this season? Let us know here.
Antony has won Paul Scholes over following a string of improved performances (Getty Images)He added: "He’s still going to do his silly stuff but we don’t mind that if he’s producing stuff like this, producing goals and a pass for Dalot [against Forest]. He needs more of those goals, he needs to get himself in the box and he will score a lot of goals in this team in the next couple of years.
"He’s 22 years of age, Brazilian lad, has come from a different country. It was going to take him a bit of time to settle in but now – ok, we’re coming to the end of the season – but in the next couple of years he could be a huge player for this club."
Antony is set to feature for Manchester United in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final clash with Brighton. Manchester City will await the winners in the showpiece final at Wembley next month after seeing off Sheffield United on Saturday evening.