While both Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez have made a sizeable positive impact at Manchester United this season, there does remain some questions surrounding their other big money summer arrival.
Antony arrived from Ajax with a price tag of €100million, with many questioning the wisdom of forking out such a fee for a player of his pedigree. While there was no doubting his talent, he was relatively unproven at the top level and boasted stats that did not exactly jump off the page.
Still, the club trusted Erik ten Hag's judgement.
His impact has been mixed so far. There have been some real moments of quality, including his goal against Charlton in midweek.
However, he has also frustrated at times. The Brazilian is noticeably one-footed, lacking any other ideas if he is unable to cut inside onto his favoured left foot. When that isn't on, he often tends to just pass the ball backwards. He also hasn't registered an assist or even created one 'big chance' this season.
It is far too early to make any real judgements on Antony, but the jury is certainly still out after his signing.
Manchester United had reasoning behind Antony overpay
According to a report in ESPN, Manchester United have acknowledged internally that they overpaid for Antony.
He was available for €60million earlier in the summer, a price tag that the club were unwilling to match. After returning to the deal near the end of the window, Ajax sought €100million, with United eventually relenting and stumping up the cash.
The fee was clearly over the odds, although ESPN said that those inside the club had three reasons for sanctioning it.
Firstly, they believed they were paying for the potential that Antony possessed and not the player he is right now. Secondly, the club were apparently impressed with his desire to move to Old Trafford and push through a deal.
Lastly, they believed that a number of big European clubs would be in the market for players similar to the winger in the summer of 2023, meaning the price tag could increase even further.
It is perhaps not a good sign when Manchester United are already admitting that they overpaid for the player, although things could yet work out swimmingly in the end.
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