Former England midfielder Joe Cole has criticized Manchester United's new signing Anthony for his performance in the 1-2 defeat away to Brighton in the second round of the English Premier League. According to Cole, Anthony failed to perform at a level commensurate with his £80 million price tag in his limited playing time, and even "slowed down" his teammates.
In an interview with TNT Sports, Cole said bluntly, "United replaced Anthony, but it was clear that he wasn't content to play only 10 to 15 minutes. Considering his transfer fee, such playing time is obviously not enough for him. He may have started to think about leaving United, and United, for their part, may be thinking about selling him."
Cole further pointed out that Anthony's performance in the game was disappointing: "At key moments when the team needed him to step up and put his best foot forward for the team and the club, he didn't do that. Instead, his performance dragged his teammates down. If you look at the runs and hustle of the Brighton substitutes, that's the kind of attitude a professional player should have, and that's what Anthony lacked."
United spent a huge amount of money to bring in Anthony from Ajax in the summer of 2022 and had hoped that he would bring new energy and attacking firepower to the team. However, the 24-year-old Brazilian winger has not been able to find his best form since joining the club, with his performances falling far short of the expectations of the fans and the club. Cole's criticisms have undoubtedly been a wake-up call for both Anthony and United, reminding them that they need to make changes in the coming games.
