You are complete fools you let him go for a cheaper price than you got him. It just shows how wasteful the team is. It is a humiliating loss of the highest level” – According to Roy Keane, Manchester United should be seen as “complete idiots” if they allow their £40m star to return to his former club, describing it as a “humiliating loss of face at the highest level.”

Manchester United have been warned they would “look like complete idiots” if they let their £86m flop Antony return to Ajax in January or next summer.

The Red Devils were overcharged by Ajax during the 2022 summer window, paying around £86m to sign the Brazilian winger, who had thrived under Erik ten Hag at the Dutch club.

However, Antony has struggled at Old Trafford and failed to live up to expectations. Last season, he managed just two goal involvements in 29 Premier League appearances and has since fallen down the pecking order.

This term, he has only played 27 minutes in the league and is now linked with a potential exit.

According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, Manchester United are “open” to letting Antony leave on loan in January to potentially secure a permanent transfer next summer.

United would reportedly consider offers around £40m for the 24-year-old.

Although a return to Ajax has been mentioned, Dutch journalist Bart Sanders suggests a move to Wolves is more likely, as a transfer back to his former club would reflect poorly on United.

“Manchester United would never consider this from a loss-of-face standpoint. As a club, it would be humiliating to sign someone for €100 million and then loan him back to his former team just two years later.

That would be the ultimate embarrassment, wouldn’t it?

“Antony could easily find opportunities at clubs like FC Porto, Benfica, or Wolves.

There are plenty of other teams. While he struggled at Manchester United, he did make an impact when Ajax won all six of their Champions League group stage matches.

“Sporting Portugal is still worried about facing him, so there will definitely be clubs interested in taking him on loan.”

Manchester United face a delicate situation with Antony, their £86m signing who has struggled to meet expectations since arriving from Ajax in 2022. His performance in the Premier League, where he contributed only two goal involvements in 29 appearances last season, has led the club to consider offloading him. Reports suggest United may be open to a loan move in January, potentially leading to a permanent transfer next summer for a significantly reduced fee of around £40m.

While Ajax has been mentioned as a possible destination, Dutch journalist Bart Sanders argues that United would “look like complete idiots” if they sent him back to his former club, as it would be seen as a major embarrassment for a club of their stature. Instead, clubs like Wolves, FC Porto, Benfica, or Sporting Portugal are considered more likely options for Antony, where he could still find opportunities to revive his career.

The situation presents a tricky balancing act for Manchester United, who will need to manage both financial loss and public perception if they decide to move Antony on.