The football world is filled with fascinating “what-if” scenarios, and one such tale involves Manchester United’s winger Antony and Liverpool’s interest in signing the Brazilian before Mohamed Salah committed to a long-term deal at Anfield in 2022. Antony’s agent, Junior Pedroso, recently revealed that Liverpool had shown genuine interest in the winger when Salah’s future was still uncertain. This disclosure has reignited discussions about how Antony’s career might have taken a different turn had Liverpool succeeded in securing his services.
Pedroso shared that Liverpool considered alternative options in case they lost Salah, who was in contract negotiations at the time. In an interview with winwin.com, he confirmed the Reds’ interest, saying, “Yes, this story has a basis in truth. No (negotiations stopped as), Salah renewed his contract at the time with Liverpool, and that made Antony’s move to Liverpool impossible.” Once Salah renewed his contract, Antony’s potential move to Liverpool faded, leading to his record-breaking £81.3 million transfer to Manchester United from Ajax later that summer.
The timing of these events was crucial for Liverpool. In June 2022, Salah ended speculation about his future by signing a lucrative contract extension while on vacation in Mykonos. This deal not only secured one of Liverpool’s key players but also reinforced their ambition to stay at the top of English and European football. Since the renewal, Salah has continued to impress, scoring 65 goals in all competitions, including 27 in the Premier League. This season, under new management, Salah has already netted 10 goals, bringing his total for the club to an impressive 221 since joining from Roma in 2017.
On the other hand, Antony’s time at Manchester United has been rocky. The Brazilian winger has struggled to justify his hefty price tag, scoring just five goals and registering three assists in 56 Premier League appearances. This season, his difficulties have been compounded by United’s struggles on the field. After a poor start to the campaign, United replaced Erik ten Hag with Ruben Amorim in an attempt to turn things around. Antony has played only twice this season, highlighting his challenges in adjusting to the Premier League and United’s overall struggles.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Liverpool’s focus on Salah in 2022 came amid broader contract issues that continue to affect the club. Both Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are now entering the final months of their contracts, raising fresh concerns for Liverpool’s management. These ongoing situations emphasize the delicate balance top clubs must strike between retaining star players and planning for the future.
Looking back, the possibility of Antony moving to Liverpool raises intriguing questions about how his career might have unfolded in a more stable and successful environment like Anfield. While Salah has solidified his legacy as one of Liverpool’s greatest players, Antony has yet to make a significant impact at Old Trafford. The story of Liverpool’s interest in Antony highlights the unpredictable nature of transfer dealings and the fine margins that can shape a player’s career and the fortunes of the clubs they play for.
