ntony police investigations threaten Man Utd hopes to sell £85m flop

The ongoing police investigations surrounding Manchester United winger Antony could scupper any moves the club make to sell the Brazil international this summer.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Sao Paulo Civil Police are still probing the assault allegations against Antony made by his former girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin, which the player strenuously denies.

Antony is understood to be a player United are open to selling this summer, even though the club are not thought to be actively looking to push the £85.5 million winger out of the door at this stage.

However, that could change depending on what happens with the future of manager Erik ten Hag, who pushed hard for Antony's arrival from Ajax in September 2022, only for the 24-year-old to fall well short of expectations at Old Trafford.

Even if United resolve to cut their losses on Antony, though, sources have indicated the assault allegations against him present a major obstacle to a potential sale this summer - unless the case is dropped or the player is cleared before then.

Antony and his representatives - who have long maintained his innocence and vowed to fight to clear his name - are convinced he has no case to answer and that the player will be vindicated.

Cavallin, a DJ and influencer, has claimed she was assaulted by Antony on a number of occasions in Brazil and the UK between June 2022 and May last year.

She was interviewed by GMP last October, weeks after Antony voluntarily attended an interview with GMP when he was not arrested and free to go home afterwards with no bail restrictions.

If United were able to move Antony on, they would likely have to accept a huge hit on the £85.5 million fee they paid Ajax, which made him the second most expensive signing in the club's history and the 13th costliest player ever at the time.