Antony could be in line to receive his dream shirt number should he replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.
The Brazilian winger has been linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer with the Red Devils keen to add to their wide options ahead of next season. Erik ten Hag struck up an excellent relationship with the winger during the pair’s time together at Ajax, with suggestions that it could be recreated at United.
However, it appeared that the club had ruled themselves out of a move for Antony with the Dutch outfit’s monstrous £70m price tag deemed unfeasible for the Red Devils - especially with the huge fee that they are set to pay for Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.
Nevertheless, interest in Antony appears to have been renewed amid the drama over Ronaldo’s uncertain future. In the aftermath of the Portuguese forward lodging a transfer request, ten Hag submitted an emergency appeal to the board for a deal to be completed for Antony this summer.
It of course remains to be seen if the Red Devils will stump up the required fee to secure the winger’s services before deadline day but he could well be in line for a dream shirt number should he make the switch. With Ronaldo gone, the Brazilian could well be entrusted with the no. 7 shirt with the Red Devils.
Whilst he is the current occupant of the No. 11 shirt at Ajax, he has elected to wear the iconic number in the past with former club Sao Paulo as well as on the international stage with the Brazil U23s.
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He might however face some competition for the number. Last summer’s most expensive arrival, Jadon Sancho, was understood to be keen on donning the number following his switch from Borussia Dortmund.
However, with Edinson Cavani the occupant, he was forced to settle for 25 instead. Of course, the Uruguayan himself elected to pass the number on following the return of Ronaldo, with the Red Devils gaining special dispensation from the Premier League to go through with the switch.
The striker was understood to be unhappy with the swap despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having previously praised the Uruguayan’s selflessness.
Speaking after Ronaldo’s initial return, the former United boss said: "It's one of these things that Edinson has been remarkable, played really well last season, Cristiano speaks with Edinson, to pass up his shirt shows the respect he's got for Cristiano and respect the other way. Two top pros, players, and human beings."
Of course, the passing on of the No. 7 shirt once more relies on Ronaldo leaving the club. Juventus and Chelsea have emerged as the front-runners for his services with agent Jorge Mendes having approached both clubs regarding a deal before the Portuguese forward submitted his transfer request but the Red Devils remain determined not to sell.
