Former England international Joe Cole has given his insight on Manchester United winger Anthony's Premier League performances in a recent media interview. Joe Cole believes that although Anthony has shown considerable talent in terms of technique and skill, he has been challenged by the intensity of the physicality of the Premier League, which has led to him struggling to perform at his best in the Manchester United game.
"Anthony has certainly encountered a number of problems during his time at Manchester United," admits Joe Cole, "He is undoubtedly a very good player in terms of skill and talent, but he clearly hasn't found a way to fully adapt in a high-intensity, high-confrontation league like the Premier League. I think he would probably be more comfortable playing in a league like the Dutch Eredivisie."
Joe Cole also singled out Anthony's excellent performance against Barnsley, which he felt was a great display of Anthony's skill and ability. "Anthony really showed his talent and potential in that game, but that kind of performance isn't enough for him to get his feet wet in the Premier League." Joe Cole added.
Joe Cole has reservations about Anthony's future at Manchester United. "I don't think Anthony will play a major role in United's starting line-up this season, nor do I think he can be a key player in helping United turn things around." Joe Cole said, "Given his age and potential, I think he may choose to leave United in the future to develop in another league that suits him better."
Since joining United in the summer window of 2022 for a whopping €95 million transfer fee, Anthony has made a total of 84 appearances for the team, scoring 12 goals and dishing out 5 assists. However, such statistics do not fully reflect his role and impact on the pitch, especially against the high intensity of the Premier League, where he often struggles to live up to expectations.
With the gradual fulfillment of his contract, Anthony's future at Manchester United is becoming more and more confusing. Whether he stays at United and tries to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League, or chooses to leave for other leagues to find a more suitable stage for himself, this will be a question that he and the United club need to face and decide together.
