‘Beautiful’ Antony backed to succeed at Man Utd by the player he replaced | Football

Antony has flattered to deceive since joining United in 2022 for £82million, with his only goal and assist this season coming against League Two’s Newport County in the FA Cup.

Even Erik ten Hag appears to have lost faith in his former Ajax star, with Alejandro Garnacho shifted over to start on the right of attack.

There are even reports that the Red Devils will look to offload the 23-year-old to the Saudi Pro League come the summer.

By contrast, Elanga is enjoying a fine first season at Nottingham Forest having swapped Old Trafford for the City Ground last summer in a deal worth £15m.

‘I am confident that he will score a lot of goals there. I could already see that during the training sessions.

‘I believe in God, and he told me to go to Nottingham, and Antony is still at United. But he will really be successful there.’

Elanga went onto say that he also holds no grudge against Ten Hag, addressing the reports he was was forced out by the Dutch manager: ‘Was Ten Hag the reason I left United? No, I wouldn’t say that.

‘I just wanted to play, that was especially important to me. I’m young and I don’t want to sit on the bench all season, you know? When you’re young you want to play, you want to make mistakes, you want to take risks.

‘But he wasn’t the reason for my leaving. There I mainly focused on myself, not on others.

‘Of course I also saw what he did at Ajax. But when you come to England everything is different. He has improved several players, for example Ryan Gravenberch, who now plays for Liverpool.

‘But I just wanted to take my chance and go somewhere else. And that was a good decision, because I am enjoying myself at Forest.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.