From hell to heaven: Can Antony be the lacking piece in jigsaw for Tite’s Brazil?

It all began at a favela in Sao Paulo known as Inferninho. Translated actually, it means Little Hell. And Antony dos Santos grew up proper in the course of it. Surrounded by medication, gang wars, police chases and murders.

Twenty yards from his home, he’d recalled in a latest interview, a younger Antony would see drug sellers going about their enterprise. “Sometimes,” he instructed Sky Sports, “you’d be watching the game on a Sunday and there would be that smell of cannabis coming into our house. There were moments when my brother, sister and I would cry and hug each other thinking about our lives.”

From residing in hell, Antony now finds himself in heaven. And he’s additionally touted because the participant who may help his nation Brazil attain the promised land and raise the World Cup in Doha this December.

Since the 2014 World Cup, the hopes of all Brazilians have rested on only one participant — Neymar Jr.

Eight years in the past, the strain of enjoying in entrance of dwelling followers broke Neymar’s again. The harm that he suffered in opposition to Colombia within the quarterfinals dominated the ahead out of the semifinals and with out him, Brazil seemed spineless, enduring the humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany.

New historical past!! 🔴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿@ManUtd @premierleague pic.twitter.com/Putc8ghAzP

— Antony Santos (@antony00) September 4, 2022

At Russia 2018, a stumbling and stuttering Neymar was simply starting to search out his stride when Brazil met a Belgium group in high type and had been knocked out within the quarterfinals.

Come November, whereas Neymar will nonetheless be the talisman for Brazil in Qatar, he’ll be glad to share the highlight with Antony, the Manchester United midfielder who has been the discuss of the soccer world since making his transfer from Ajax.

Fight for spot in enjoying XI

Antony, for the time being, isn’t a assured began in Tite’s XI. If Vinicius Junior is performed on the left wing, that would go away Antony and Raphinha preventing for the spot on the correct with Neymar enjoying by means of the centre. Brazil’s friendlies this month in opposition to Ghana (September 24) and Tunisia (September 28) might give a glimpse into Tite’s thoughts however given the latest type, it’ll be onerous for the tactician to disregard Antony.

With magnificent creativity, chic abilities and exemplary Brazilian aptitude, the 22-year-old’s risk on the correct flank can completely complement the risk Neymar possesses.

Brazil coach Tite. (FILE/REUTERS/Toru Hanai)

Antony is aware of only one approach to play, particularly within the ultimate third: “Dribbling,” he had mentioned. “it’s the Brazilian way, isn’t it? Dribbling, speed, scoring goals and celebrating with the fans and everyone else.”

Though Antony has immediately shot into limelight since his €95m switch from Ajax to the Red Devils – making him the costliest participant on this planet this 12 months, the second-most costly participant in Manchester United’s historical past and the fourth-highest switch in Britain – his battle has been a protracted one, one which started within the outskirts of Sao Paulo, at Inferninho.

It could appear to be a typical Brazilian footballer’s journey for Manchester United’s newest acquisition. Being introduced up within the favelas, then enjoying on your native Brazilian group earlier than impressing some European scouts. Then a much bigger membership comes alongside and pays an astronomical quantity to signal you.

Extraordinary story

While the background of the story often is the identical, Antony’s story is kind of extraordinary.

“I went through a lot, a lot of difficult moments in my life. I know that this will be another challenge. I went through a lot in the past, no football boots, nothing to eat, and 3 or 4 in the morning bailing water out of my house as it had flooded. They were very difficult times but I went through it all with a smile,” he instructed manutd.com.

It was his brother, now his agent, who taught him to play the game, to dribble and to attain objectives.

In 2010, shortly earlier than his tenth birthday, Antony joined the youth setup of Sao Paulo.

“In Sao Paulo, everyone was saying we have an amazing player,” former Sao Paulo govt director Alexandre Passaro instructed the BBC World Football podcast. “I went there to watch him. I saw a very, very thin boy, shy, small. When I saw him, i thought come on maybe I was imagining something different. But then, he started playing. On the pitch, he was emotional, very happy. He has that Brazilian happiness of play that’s hard to find.”

After creating at their academy, Antony made his debut in 2018 and his recreation reached a distinct dimension. In the 2019 season, he made 29 appearances, scoring 4 objectives and making six assists within the league, as an underwhelming Sao Paulo stumbled to sixth place. His performances although didn’t go unnoticed, and Ajax got here calling.

Playing on the correct wing at Ajax, Antony confirmed an distinctive stage of shut management. He might change route in a short time, which made defending in opposition to him a nightmare. More importantly, he performed below present Manchester United supervisor Erik Ten Hag, who was then the coach of Ajax.

Ten Hag’s excessive concentrate on techniques and method is what actually remodeled Antony into the harmful participant that he has change into, profitable two Eredivisie title. When he moved to United, he knew he simply needed to get Antony into his group there.

Brazilian trio at Old Trafford

Brazil’s Vinicius Junior reveals Neymar-esque aptitude (Source: Reuters)

Having Antony at United may also be a blessing in disguise for Brazil and Tite. After all, three of their 4 midfielders play at Old Trafford: New signing Casemiro has been an integral a part of the Brazilian group combining with Fred currently in midfield.

While they haven’t began collectively within the Premier League as but, there’s a very long time for November. More importantly, having Casemiro within the group will assist Antony to remain grounded. Young Brazilian gamers like Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo in Real Madrid usually discuss how Casemiro helped them preserve their ft on the bottom and managed to see that they don’t stray away. And he’ll seemingly do the identical with Antony at Man United.

With this midfield trio, Brazil are slowly morphing right into a fearless, attacking group, however as for Antony, he’s simply getting began.