Pundit calls out performances of ’embarrassing’ Man United ‘bluffer’ after ‘big-money’ transfer

Gabby Agbonlahor has criticised Manchester United winger Antony for his lack of goal contributions since joining the club last summer.

Erik ten Hag pursued the Brazilian attacker after managing him at Ajax.

United splashed out a whopping fee – believed to be in the region of £85million – to sign him from the Eredisivie giants.

Antony hit the ground running with a goal on his debut against Arsenal in the Gunners’ only Premier League defeat this term.

Despite a positive debut, Antony has not quite lived up to his hefty price.

While he has not been poor this season, you would expect more from someone who cost around £85m, even if he does need time to adapt to life in England.

Former Premier League striker Agbonlahor has delivered a scathing assessment of the 22-year-old, labeling him a “bluffer”.

The ex-Aston Villa man wants to see more from Antony, who is not brave, or quick enough, on the pitch.

“Manchester United, for me, have looked better since Erik ten Hag has come in,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT. “They’ve done better in the last few months. But when I look at Antony…

“There have been a lot of big transfers in the Premier League, [but] £86m… I think he’s a bluffer. When he gets the ball, he doesn’t take players on [and] he hasn’t got the speed to take players on.

“In 11 league games, he’s got three goals, no assists. Four Carabao Cup games, one goal, no assists. Two FA Cup games, one goal, one assist. That’s one assist in all competitions.

“He doesn’t do what Rashford does. Rashford gets the ball [and he’s] direct, takes players on, gets balls into the box. And the big thing for me is his number of crosses. He’s put in one and a half crosses per game.”

Agbonlahor has not been impressed by Antony’s tricks and has hinted that he would not enjoy playing with him.

The former England international thinks Antony should take a leaf out of Ashley Young’s book by putting more crosses in the box.

“[It must be frustrating] if you’re a striker and making your runs [while] he’s doing his tricks, cutting in, cutting back, not putting the ball into the box,” Agbonlahor continued.

“I played with a great winger called Ashley Young, still playing now at 37. In his first season at Aston Villa, he got nine goals and 14 assists. You always knew he was going to put the ball in.

“He’d take a player on, do his step-overs, cut back, do his chops, but he’d always put the ball in the right areas. For me, Antony, one and a half crosses per game isn’t good enough.

“He does this turn too. He gets the ball and bends around like that. What would you do if you were a defender and he did that turn? It’s embarrassing.”

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