According to a report by The Athletic on Wednesday October 21, 2026, former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed that Jadon Sancho's reported reluctance to play on the right wing contributed to the club's decision to sign Antony late in the 2022 summer transfer window.

Antony joined Manchester United from Ajax on September 1, 2022, for a reported £82 million fee, becoming one of the most expensive signings in the club's history. However, the Brazilian winger struggled to live up to expectations at Old Trafford, and his transfer has since become a major talking point among supporters.

Ten Hag, who previously worked with Antony at Ajax, has now offered an explanation for the circumstances surrounding the deal, suggesting that a positional issue involving Sancho left United needing to find another option before the transfer window closed.

Speaking to The Athletic, the Dutchman claimed that Sancho expressed a preference for playing on the left rather than the right, creating a problem for United as they looked to balance their attacking options.

“There came up a problem because Sancho didn’t want to play on the right side; he said that. Which was very weird; he played often on the right. He said he felt more comfortable on the left. So there we had an issue, and we were late,” Ten Hag said.

The comments provide an insight into the thinking behind Antony's arrival and suggest that United's recruitment plans were affected by the positional preferences within the squad.

Sancho joined Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 with a reputation as one of Europe's most promising attacking talents. The England international had demonstrated his ability to operate on either flank during his career, giving United flexibility in their forward line.

According to Transfermarkt, Sancho had played 136 matches on the right wing, scoring 33 goals and providing 47 assists in that position.

Those numbers help explain Ten Hag's surprise at the reported conversation, particularly given that United had signed Sancho with the expectation that he could contribute in different attacking roles.

Nevertheless, the winger's reported preference for the left did not necessarily mean he was incapable of playing on the right. Rather, it appears to have created a selection and tactical issue that Ten Hag believed needed to be addressed.

United were looking for an attacker who could provide width and creativity on the right while complementing the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Antony, a left-footed winger who generally operated from the right at Ajax, fitted the profile Ten Hag wanted.

The Brazilian was already familiar with the manager's tactical demands after their time together in the Netherlands. That relationship likely made him an attractive option as United attempted to strengthen their attack before the deadline.

However, the timing of the deal meant United were operating under considerable pressure, while the substantial transfer fee raised questions about the club's negotiating strategy.

Antony's performances at Old Trafford ultimately failed to justify the investment. The winger made 96 appearances for United, scoring 12 goals and recording five assists, according to the figures cited in the original report.