Manchester United has officially confirmed that Antony will be returning to first-team training and is once again eligible for selection.
Earlier this month, the club had granted Antony some time off after he faced accusations of assault from three women.
During this period, Antony was allowed to visit his home country of Brazil but later returned to England. This week, he had a meeting with Greater Manchester Police to discuss the allegations against him.
Manchester United has now made it known that Antony will resume his training at the Carrington facility and will be at the disposal of manager Erik ten Hag for team selection. In an official statement, the club declared:
“Since the allegations were initially made in June, Antony has been fully cooperating with police investigations in both Brazil and the UK, and he continues to do so.
As Antony’s employer, Manchester United has decided that he will recommence training at Carrington and will be available for selection while police inquiries progress. We will monitor this situation and make further decisions as the case develops.
As a club, we strongly condemn acts of violence and abuse. We acknowledge the importance of safeguarding all individuals involved in this matter and recognize the impact these allegations can have on survivors of abuse.”
The club have provided an update on Antony.#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 29, 2023
Antony’s last appearance for Manchester United was in their 3-1 loss to Arsenal on September 3rd. Following that defeat, the Red Devils suffered additional losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and Bayern Munich after the international break.
However, they have recently achieved consecutive victories, marking the first time this season they have done so, with wins against Burnley and Crystal Palace.
Man Utd is set to face Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday, following their elimination of Palace from the Carabao Cup earlier in the week.
Fans and the media are eager for further information on Antony’s situation, and it is expected that Manager Erik ten Hag will provide an update during his press conference scheduled for Friday afternoon.