Antony, the attacker for Manchester United, spoke candidly about his challenging past.
When asked about how he handles pressure in his career, the Brazilian winger, now playing for Real Betis in Spain, revealed that he faced tougher challenges playing hungry and without shoes than any setbacks he’s faced in his club career.
He said via DAZN, “When I’m asked about pressure, I say, ‘What pressure?’ I faced pressure in the favela when I didn’t have shoes to play. I played against drug traffickers and everything. That was real pressure.
“When I left in the morning to go to school, I often didn’t eat. So when I go through difficult moments, I always think about the challenges I overcame in the past.”
Struggling to find his place at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, Antony was eventually loaned out after Ruben Amorim took over. The 25-year-old made his move to Europe in 2020, joining Ajax from Sao Paulo in Brazil.
During his time with Ajax, Antony helped the team secure back-to-back Eredivisie titles, contributing 24 goals and 22 assists in 82 games. His impressive performances caught the attention of Manchester United, who signed him for £85 million in the summer of 2022.
