UEFA Champions League: 5 best young players of Matchday 1
4. Antony (AFC Ajax)
Age: 21
Position: Right winger
Nationality: Brazil
Individual achievements: None
Did you know?
Ajax signed Antony for a fee worth up to £18.2 million in February 2020 after beating competition from Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund.
The Brazilian made 42 appearances across all competitions in his first season at the club, scoring 10 times while providing eight assists. He was named in the Brazil U23 squad for the Tokyo Olympics as a reward for his performance.
Sebastien Haller grabbed all the headlines for Ajax against Sporting Club and rightly so. However, young attacker Antony put in an impressive display, too, one that gave fans a timely reminder of what an extraordinary talent he is.
The Brazilian winger started on the right flank and constantly toyed with the Sporting defense and played a key role in four of Ajax’s five goals on the night. He supplied Haller with assists for two of his four goals, fizzing passes into his path from the flank. His deflected shot that rattled the post in the 2nd minute also fell to Haller, who opened the scoring with a simple follow-up.
Finally, Antony was also involved in Ajax’s third goal, scored by Steven Berghuis. He played a pass into the path of Ryan Gravenberch from his position out wide before the latter pirouetted and worked the ball into the path of Berghuis.
The 21-year-old came off at the 70-minute mark with two assists, two key passes, and two big chances created to his name.
Why should Premier League clubs be interested?
It is always worth keeping an eye on players Ajax deem fit for their talented squad. Antony did not come through the Ajax academy, instead, the club paid a huge sum by their standard to sign him ahead of Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund.
The winger took to the Dutch Eredivisie almost instantly and finished his first season with 18 goal contributions – 10 goals, eight assists – from 42 games.
He is an exciting wide forward, capable of hugging the touchline, taking on his opponents, and providing tangible attacking output – the kind of profile that top-tier teams are always looking out for.