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Antony has spoken candidly about the advice he received from Cristiano Ronaldo during their stint together at Manchester United and detailed how Erik ten Hag played a crucial role in convincing him to move to Old Trafford. The Brazilian winger also opened up about the pressure of playing in England and the challenges that eventually inspired his move to Spain.

Antony looks back on his Manchester United journey

Antony offered new insights into his time with the Red Devils, discussing the influence of both Ronaldo and Ten Hag on his professional path. During an appearance on the Podpah podcast, the Brazilian revisited his transfer from Ajax to Manchester United and the difficulties he faced in adapting to English football. He revealed that Ten Hag was a major factor in his decision to join United in 2022. Having enjoyed success together at Ajax, the Dutch manager maintained close contact and persuaded Antony to follow him into the Premier League.

Ronaldo’s mentorship and Ten Hag’s determination

Antony spoke fondly of Ronaldo and the encouragement he received from the Portuguese legend while they were teammates at Old Trafford.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is an amazing person—funny and respectful,” Antony said. “He told me that the day I stop feeling butterflies in my stomach, I should be careful. Before my debut against Arsenal, he told me to stay calm with my first touches and reminded me that I already knew how to do everything else.”

The Brazilian further elaborated on why he decided to join Manchester United, saying: “I moved to Manchester United because of Erik ten Hag. He kept messaging me, saying he wanted me there.”

Handling pressure, adapting, and starting anew

Antony also shed light on the obstacles he encountered following his high-profile move to England. Although he made a promising start, the scrutiny surrounding his transfer fee and performances soon intensified. The winger admitted that the criticism impacted his self-belief and ultimately influenced his decision to continue his career in Spain. Last season, he recorded 14 goals and 10 assists across 46 matches in all competitions for Real Betis.

“The media in England can be quite harsh; at times, I even started doubting myself, but my family kept reminding me that one bad phase doesn’t define my story,” he confessed. “So I went to Spain to rediscover myself and find happiness again. The Premier League is extremely intense in both attack and defence, while in Spain, there’s more room for one-on-one play.”

Building back confidence

The Brazilian winger now hopes to sustain his resurgence and deliver consistent performances as he moves beyond his challenging spell at Old Trafford—especially after helping Los Verdiblancos secure a long-awaited return to the Champions League after two decades.