Antony’s agent hits back at Ruben Amorim with a scathing criticism of the Man Utd manager.
Antony’s agent, Junior Pedroso, has strongly refuted Ruben Amorim’s claim that the winger’s improved form in Spain is due to lower physical demands.
The 24-year-old, currently on loan at Real Betis from Manchester United, has made an immediate impact under Manuel Pellegrini, registering three goals and two assists in seven matches. Amorim, in an interview with TNT Sports, suggested that Antony’s struggles at United were largely down to the physical intensity of English football, stating that “if you don’t have physicality, you will struggle a lot.”
Pedroso, however, dismissed this explanation in an interview with Marca, arguing that Antony’s lack of success at United was not due to physicality but rather a lack of playing time and confidence. He highlighted that under Amorim, Antony featured in only nine of 15 games, playing just 252 minutes—only 18.6% of available game time—insufficient to make a proper judgment on his abilities.
He further criticized Amorim’s comments for indirectly undermining La Liga, emphasizing that Spanish football remains one of the most competitive leagues globally, with clubs regularly excelling in the Champions League and Europa League. Pedroso insisted that Antony’s resurgence at Betis proves his talent was never the issue, but rather the environment and coaching he received at United.
Concluding his response, Pedroso pointed out that many players have struggled at United but thrived elsewhere, suggesting the club’s setup may be a bigger factor in Antony’s difficulties than the player’s physical attributes.
