Antony | Here we go! €100mill, contract until June 2027, option 'til 2028.

[DevilRed]

Bad to whom? Ajax's model is developing their players (brought in from abroad, or locally), and then selling them on at massive profit. For a young player brought in from abroad especially, can you trust that you'll 'do your time' and then be allowed to leave for the right price?

This.

Ajax's model has always been to sell their youth and/or first team players for a profit.

Its what has kept the club alive for all these decades.

They ARE a selling club. Its engrained in their history and how they survive.

Im a bit surprised they turned down the bid, but I guess they are holding out for 100m euros.

 

[BarstoolProphet]

As a Manchester United fan well past the retirement age I would think twice before I signed for Ajax now. Especially if they are not giving me a release clause of max £100.

 

[Rolaholic]

Good to know that he means what he says and says what he means

 

[mav_9me]

I would rather we divided the 100m€ and go for a CM and a striker but I guess Antony it is. He has shown a great desire to come here as opposed to FDJ.

 

[EtH]

After Antony going public, there surely is no way back for him there now. They will look even more bigger idiots than they have done so far if they still refuse to let him go.

Don’t think they care. And who looks foolish, really ? We have one player chomping at the bit to come with an unwilling selling club while the other player is unwilling to come despite the club trying to push him out. You couldn’t make it up.

 

[saivet]

Totally understand Antony being annoyed with Ajax but this is one us in my opinion. If we'd thrown in such a big bid earlier on in the transfer window, he's already be at United or the very least this fiasco would have been settled a lot sooner. A lesson not to leave our business so late and to stick to our guns with a clear strategy in the window.

 

[DevilRed]

cnuts going to do the same to us in 4-5 years time when madrid come calling.

I will be ready to cry wank myself to sleep by then though.

 

[Fortitude]

Hope you’re right, mate.

We need the player; the manager wants the player, and we’ve got to save face otherwise the media will have a field day with us if we’ve chased our primary target all window and failed and compounded it with this falling through. It’s an important signing for us both on and off the pitch.

VDS stepping in today was also very telling.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Not enough people have a feck Ajax mentality in here.

Soycafe.

Too many people here actually want to back Ajax instead of being on Uniteds side

What has happened to these people over the last few years. Madness.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

We're not failing to get another one of Ten Hag's top targets. You won't like Haggy when he's angry.

And I’m sure Ajax know that better than anyone else

 

[BarstoolProphet]

Good to know that he means what he says and says what he means

I've had a feeling that he knew even back then that EtH would want him at United.

 

[Rolaholic]

Sometime I wonder if this is redcafe or orangecafe

Would think it's an Ajax forum at times in here

 

[ilrm]

You could literally get Asensio for less than half of Antony's price. A good way to prevent clubs from fleecing you is to go for alternatives and never come back for that player in future. Is Asensio really going to be that much of a risk over Antony?

 

[cyberman]

Totally understand Antony being annoyed with Ajax but this is one us in my opinion. If we'd thrown in such a big bid earlier on in the transfer window, he's already be at United or the very least this fiasco would have been settled a lot sooner. A lesson not to leave our business so late and to stick to our guns with a clear strategy in the window.

I keep seeing this being thrown around and I can’t see how it’s true. They shafted us for Martinez, why would they be accepting bids less than what we’re bidding now just because it’s earlier in the window?

 

[Schnappo]

Wow that interview with Romano is nuclear. What a mess. I'd imagine for Antony to go public like this, United must have advised his camp to rock the boat with assurances that we'll pay whatever it takes to get him. And in classic United fashion, we've decided to bid last minute...Ajax understandably aren't having it. Quite entertaining though.

 

[swissgenius]

It's not cancel mate. We'll pay them 80m for Antony it's not free. And sure it works both ways. That's why we have contracts to protect interests from both sides.

My english isn't the best, in 'cancel' I meant more like 'terminate' it. I know they get paid, and not on the cheap, but they feel like it's better value for their club to keep him.
So as you said, contract protects both sides, so I don't really see why Antony thinks it's his right to demand the transfer.
But then, we haven't seen the contract and don't know about the agreements in place and what promises Ajax made to him.

 

[DevilRed]

You could literally get Asensio for less than half of Antony's price. A good way to prevent clubs from fleecing you is to go for alternatives and never come back for that player in future. Is Asensio really going to be that much of a risk over Antony?

Hello florentino.

No we do not want your deadwood.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Totally understand Antony being annoyed with Ajax but this is one us in my opinion. If we'd thrown in such a big bid earlier on in the transfer window, he's already be at United or the very least this fiasco would have been settled a lot sooner. A lesson not to leave our business so late and to stick to our guns with a clear strategy in the window.

Who cares if it's 5 days or 1 day? it's nearly 100m euros im sure they'll manage ok. They beat the pub sides in their league 6-0 every week anyway.

 

[moses]

Far too many people just think players are commodities and assets. Apparently because at 20 he signed a 5 year deal he should stay in Holland until he’s 25 despite being offered millions in a better league where he’ll improve as a footballer.

What's the point in a contract? They have sold a shed load of players already. They are a football club, and like all clubs they decide when to sell their players. The converse is true, a player under contract doesn't have to move if he doesn't want to. That's what contracts are.

 

[Sviken]

Rooney wanted out and Kane wanted out.

Are you under the impression that no transfer request was ever denied?

I don't think Rooney ever wanted out. He looked to me more like he was bluffing to get a bigger contract + make the club act more in the transfer market. I don't remember him receiving any offers or anything. I'm not that ware with the Kane situation. Did Tottenham ever say they are willing to sell him like Ajax have? You do realize that is the problem, yes? That they lied towards us and the player ,wasting months of valuable time on the transfer market, and not that they are under obligation to sell him.

 

[the_cliff]

A lot of agents of players at Ajax or agents of future players are going to be asking for release clauses from now on by the looks of it.

 

[RacingClub]

Bad to whom? Ajax's model is developing their players (brought in from abroad, or locally), and then selling them on at massive profit. For a young player brought in from abroad especially, can you trust that you'll 'do your time' and then be allowed to leave for the right price?

Ajax get to decide "the right price" for a player, not the contracted player or the buying club.

It would damage their negotiating position forever if they allowed a young talent with 3 years left on his contract to force his way out when the buying club hasn't met their required price.

The only people that think this looks bad is United fans.

 

[Someone]

I can see which of you would make horrendous bosses..

To some people your word is everything. It was a two year project according to Antony and he told them in February he would now like to leave.

United honoured their word to Ronaldo and let him go to Madrid.

They're historically a selling club, but they still want to compete as well. They've sold a lot of players and they have to prioritize, it's not all about the money. It's our fault that it came to this, had we really pushed for this deal in June Antony would've been signed for much less. I honestly understand their position 100%.

 

[RkkMan]

Weird sense of entitlement among some of our fans.

Ajax have every right to rinse us, and they have every right to not be all that enthusiastic about selling a player that they put in the hard yards to scout and develop that they haven't really got full value from in sporting terms - he's only played 50 odd matches.

All these notions of it being bad for them to do it because it gives them a poor reputation, or players will be less keen, or that they're destroying dreams are complete one eyed, United tinted nonsense.

Same thing could be said about fans like you who've been too saturated by Utd's mistakes to make it seem like the grass is only greener at clubs who's name isn't Manchester United
We've left it late(even though we made 2 offers earlier in the window) but Ajax themselves have been very scummy if they've known since February he wants to leave and rejected four bids(two of them being amongst their record sales) for a player who's wanted to leave
They've basically forced him to be unprofessional because Ajax themselves have gone against their word of allowing him to leave and their principle of being a stepping stone
It DOES NOT bode a good look no matter how superior you try to make them look

 

[EtH]

We need the player; the manager wants the player, and we’ve got to save face otherwise the media will have a field day with us if we’ve chased our primary target all window and failed and compounded it with this falling through. It’s an important signing for us both on and off the pitch.

VDS stepping in today was also very telling.

Still takes two to tango and Ajax seem to be digging in. But as I said I hope you’re right. We are desperate for attackers.

 

[Judas]

You could literally get Asensio for less than half of Antony's price. A good way to prevent clubs from fleecing you is to go for alternatives and never come back for that player in future. Is Asensio really going to be that much of a risk over Antony?

I'd rather overspend on Antony than buy Asensio on the cheap. We've already seen Asensio's ceiling, plus he doesn't want want want to come like Antony.

 

[DevilRed]

Only a matter of time before this happens.

Clearly Ajax know he wants to leave. They are just holding out for a crazy three digit fee.

 

[::sonny::]

Leicester did the same for Fofana for getting 2 millions more and 1 pack of Jaffa cake

 

[BarstoolProphet]

You could literally get Asensio for less than half of Antony's price. A good way to prevent clubs from fleecing you is to go for alternatives and never come back for that player in future. Is Asensio really going to be that much of a risk over Antony?

This is like Bayern fans trying to push Zirkzee towards us.

 

[marcus agrippa]

Not enough people have a feck Ajax mentality in here.

It's RedCafe, what do you expect?

 

[mav_9me]

A lot of agents of players at Ajax or agents of future players are going to be asking for release clauses from now on by the looks of it.

Tbh they should. Realistic mutually agreed release clauses.

 

[Stacks]

Wtf. This is mental.

I never even heard of the lad before this summer

hes the next Hazard

Honestly the price we're being quoted is absolutely mental here... surely we can get someone just as good/better for cheaper.

We don't have a proper scouting team outside of the managers recommendations

It sends such a bad message to future talents and their reps what Ajax are doing here with a top dollar offer on the table.. A 22 year old established Brazilian international should no longer be playing in Dutch football, it’s not disrespectful but just the way it is.

Don't expect Ajax to be signing many South American talents after this. They use the Eredivisie purely to get their foot in the door in Europe.

You really think they have dreams of playing for them? Ajax doing this is going to make many think twice. Take the money, sign another talent.

Now any young player will think 1000 times before they sign with them. They made themselves look like Dortmund and now players will want release clauses in their contracts when moving to Ajax just like Haaland.

But Antony wants to leave. It takes two to tango. You don't want to keep an unhappy player in your squad, especially when such a good offer has been presented to you.

Ajax has made themselves look stupid being so greedy.

Future youngsters will think twice about going if they don't sell him.

They have sold so many players already this summer so do they have to sell every player they get a good offer for this Summer? Don't you think they want to remain competitive or does they club ambitions not matter? I am sure they will have little problem signing players in the future as you don't always get what you want. I am sure he will move at some point in the future maybe even the next season like Sancho and Ronaldo did

I really hope we dip out on this one, pick up Ziyech on the cheap and use the funds elsewhere, Revisit next season.

Tony is a big talent, but he's not the finished article. 100 million euro for an Eredivisie player is just fecking nuts. He's not going anywhere for those prices this summer. Build something this season, with his Brasilian mates and go at it next season. If we lose him to Madrid or something next year, so be it. That fear shouldn't be worth overpaying by 50 million.

I agree whole heartedly. I am aghast that he is singled out as the only option we have bearing in mind how little he has proved in world football. Look how fans were upset we didn't spend 120m on Sancho and he was wank when we signed him. Most of our big signings don't work out. Its not like we ever sign the next Hazard or anything.

 

[Matt851]

Daft comments. Go away.

it's hard to compete with such unimpeachable logic

 

[Plant0x84]

Run for cover, mate

 

[mu4c_20le]

They have a five year agreement. That's got to be honoured or dissolved by both parties.

Suddenly contracts mean nothing?

Contract just guarantees employment, unless it's a slave contract. If the player doesn't want to be there anymore makes zero sense to force them to stay.

 

[Rolaholic]

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[sparx99]

They have a five year agreement. That's got to be honoured or dissolved by both parties.

Suddenly contracts mean nothing?

Part of their business model is offering young talented players a place to develop knowing they will be sold when a more than fair offer comes in from a bigger league/club. Contracts are mostly meaningless. They exist to protect the value of the asset and give both sides some protection but if they were so important transfers would happen far less often.

 

[predator]

Wheres Sepp Blatter when you need him?

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Don’t think or can’t remember the last time a player was this damn desperate to join us. Makes a nice change for once when it’s not us having to do the begging like we’ve done all summer with FDJ.

 

[Dominos]

Throw in Garnacho or Diallo, knock the transfer fee back, and just get it done. Why does every transfer have to be so difficult?

Totally understand Antony being annoyed with Ajax but this is one us in my opinion. If we'd thrown in such a big bid earlier on in the transfer window, he's already be at United or the very least this fiasco would have been settled a lot sooner. A lesson not to leave our business so late and to stick to our guns with a clear strategy in the window.

There's not enough talk about the club's utter incompetence yet again.

If we'd have made this bid on day 1 of the transfer window he'd have been a United player months ago. We all know it. The club are ponderous and slow in absolutely everything they do, tried to be clever thinking Ajax would lower their price eventually when the exact opposite occured and they've kept increasing the price. Now they're expecting Ajax to sell one of their best players 3 weeks into the season, a few days before the window closes.

Nothing ever changes. The club doesn't actually know what the hell they're doing in the market.