Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes admits he can understand why Erik ten Hag believes Antony could emulate Dutch legend Arjen Robben over the coming years.
Ten Hag made the admission following United's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon, in which the Brazilian scored one and created another. His first half opener marked his first Premier League goal since October and his eighth for the club.
After a slow start to life in England, the former Ajax ace, who joined the club for a fee north of £85million last summer, has started to find his feet in recent months, stringing together some eye-catching and encouraging performances. He has drawn comparisons to former Chelsea and Bayern Munich ace Robben throughout the campaign because of his desire to cut inside off the right wing and onto his left foot.
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Antony, at times, has been accused of being too predictable, such is the amount of time he shifts the ball onto his left foot. However, it is a trait that has threatened to do plenty of damage in recent weeks.
"I think he's got a little bit of a way to go," Scholes told BT Sport. "Arjen Robben, we all know - we played against him a few times - what a player he was.
"We can see where he's coming from, he's definitely got the potential. I think Arjen Robben could beat people on the inside and the outside, he could score all different types of goals, and I think this player - look, he's 22 years of age, Brazilian, come from a different country.
"It was going to take him a bit of time to settle in but now, okay we're coming towards the end of the season, but now and the next two or three years, he could be a huge player for this club."
Ten Hag, speaking after the win at Forest, said: "First, I know he can also use his right (foot), he has to do it more. But the second, I think there was in the week (against Sevilla last week), he can also go outside.
"But he is so good on the inside. So I've seen, for instance, Arjen Robben a lot. They say he had only one trick but that one trick was so brilliant no one can stop it.
"We have to emphasise, of course, if you can go both ways you have more variations, you are more difficult to stop. But to improve the trick you are really good at, his first yards with the ball as he dribbles are so outstanding I think they're so difficult to defend. So he has to keep doing that."
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