Published: December 6, 2021 3:48 pm
Last Updated: December 6, 2021 4:11 pm
The New Neymar?
Every up and coming player these days seems to be described as the “new” version of a current superstar.
Whether it be Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, originality is hard to come by.
However, in this instance, Ajax’s Antony may be the closest thing to Neymar that has been seen in some time, perhaps he is even, as Goal describe him, the new Neymar.
A pacy wideman with plenty of tricks and flair, he is the latest on a long line of top talent that includes Raphinha and Vinicius Jr, but has not yet made the leap out of the minor leagues to join a major club.
🇧🇷 Joga Bonito, by Antony 😎@antony00 | @AFCAjax | #UCL pic.twitter.com/MjVPul7lgA
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 3, 2021
And, if his manager’s words are anything to go by, he won’t be doing so in January.
Ten Hag rules out star man sale
Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday evening, Ten Hag was bullish about the future of his star man Antony, who has provided 2 goals and 4 assists in 4 Champions League outings so far, emerging alongside Sebastien Haller as the star duo for the Amsterdam outfit.
Ten Hag was quick to put potential suitors in their place, looking to get a jump on the queue for the 21 year old’s services, revealing that “a departure during the winter break is unthinkable.”
However, that is not to say that the Brazilian is untouchable.
Speaking earlier in the year, Ten Hag claimed:
“If you play a role in the Brazilian selection, it is clear that he will be pulled.”
“From a sporting point of view, it is clear that he is an incredible talent. He is going through an incredibly beautiful development. Especially if we perform in the Champions League, then it is clear that he will come into the spotlight and be interesting for a lot of clubs.”
With Liverpool and Chelsea representing Premier League interest, an almighty battle could start over his signature in the summer, especially if Ajax were to repeat their 2018/19 antics and make it into the latter stages of the Champions League.
Who will land the exciting Brazilian come June?
Read more:
Manchester United duo provide insight into Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact on squad
Pep Guardiola quizzed on Man City’s reported interest in Dani Olmo
This article was edited by
Josh Barker.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 15 | 23 | 35 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 15 | 32 | 34 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 15 | 26 | 33 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 15 | 9 | 27 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 14 | -1 | 25 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 15 | 1 | 24 |
| 7 | Arsenal FC | 14 | -3 | 23 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 15 | -1 | 21 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 15 | -2 | 20 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 15 | -3 | 19 |
| 11 | Leicester City | 15 | -4 | 19 |
| 12 | Brentford FC | 15 | -2 | 17 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 15 | -2 | 16 |
| 14 | Leeds United | 15 | -7 | 16 |
| 15 | Southampton FC | 15 | -7 | 16 |
| 16 | Everton FC | 14 | -7 | 15 |
| 17 | Watford FC | 15 | -9 | 13 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 14 | -7 | 10 |
| 19 | Newcastle United | 15 | -13 | 10 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 15 | -23 | 10 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 9 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Silva, Bernardo | Manchester City | 7 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 6 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 6 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 6 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 6 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 6 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 5 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 5 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 5 |
| Pukki, Teemu | Norwich City | 5 |
| Cornet, Maxwel | Burnley FC | 5 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 5 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 | |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 1 | 5 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 4 |
| Canos, Sergi | Brentford FC | 5 | |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 5 | |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 5 | |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 5 | |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 5 | |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | |
| Lascelles, Jamaal | Newcastle United | 5 | |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5 | |
| Ward, Joel | Crystal Palace | 5 | |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 5 | |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 5 | |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 | |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 | |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 | 3 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 4 | |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 4 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 6 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 4 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 4 |
| Redmond, Nathan | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 3 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Henderson, Jordan | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Canos, Sergi | Brentford FC | 3 |
| Lowton, Matthew | Burnley FC | 3 |