Antony was present at Old Trafford on Saturday but did not participate in Manchester United’s match against Crystal Palace. The 23-year-old Brazilian forward has been sidelined since United’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal earlier this month due to allegations of domestic abuse, which he denies. After being granted a leave of absence on September 10, United confirmed on Friday that Antony was available for selection. However, he felt unprepared for the Premier League match and chose to attend as a spectator instead.

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Manchester United provided an update on Antony’s situation, noting that he has cooperated with police in both Brazil and the UK since the allegations emerged in June. The club has condemned the abuse, emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding all individuals involved. Manager Erik ten Hag mentioned that Antony would return to training the following day and suggested a potential immediate comeback, stating, “On Saturday, he will be back in training… I think, yeah (he’s fit).”

Antony could make his return in United’s upcoming Champions League match against Galatasaray at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Ten Hag has opted not to discuss the details of Antony’s off-field situation, focusing instead on the player’s contributions to the team. Due to the ongoing allegations, Antony was dropped from Brazil’s squad for September’s international fixtures. He recently underwent a lengthy police interview in Manchester but has not been charged in either Brazil or the UK.

United held discussions with Antony earlier in the week regarding his reintegration into the squad, and the club’s football director, John Murtough, and chief communications officer, Ellie Norman, communicated with the women’s team about the process. In their statement, Manchester United reaffirmed their stance: “As a club, we condemn acts of violence and abuse… We recognize the importance of safeguarding all those involved in this situation and acknowledge the impact these allegations have on survivors of abuse.”