At just 22 years of age, Brazil's rising star
Anthony Mafios
The news of his impending move from Ajax to Manchester United was met with a public outcry. Some questioned his immaturity and difficulty in adapting to the competitive environment of the Premier League. However, the Brazilian international has actually shown maturity in many areas of his life.
Born in São Paulo, Anthony joined the São Paulo youth team at the age of 10 and managed to get promoted to the first team four years ago and quickly made a name for himself. His outstanding performances attracted the attention of European giants including Manchester City and Everton, but it was February 2020 when Ajax eventually landed him for £13 million.
Dutch soccer star Werder Schmidt had criticized Ajax's deal to acquire Anthony as irrational as the Dutch Eredivisie giants have been known for their excellent youth training and there was no need to overpay for the player. But just two-and-a-half years later, Anthony's price tag has soared to £84 million, which has shocked Schmidt.
Additionally, Antoni helped the Brazilian national team win the gold medal in men's soccer at last year's Tokyo Olympics and made nine appearances for the national team, scoring two goals. His performance bodes well for him to be one of the mainstays of Brazil's bid to win this World Cup.
