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Antony hits back at Paul Scholes after Man Utd legend branded him a ‘clown’ for showboating


MANCHESTER UNITED winger Antony has hit back at club legend Paul Scholes after being labelled a “clown”.

The Brazilian star, 22, performed a 720-degree spin with no defenders near him during the Red Devils’ 3-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol last month.

Antony has hit back at Paul Scholes after being labelled a ‘clown’Credit: Getty
The 720-degree spin is something Antony has become known for during his careerCredit: BT Sport
Scholes was critical of Antony’s skill during his punditry last monthCredit: Twitter

And Scholes was left thoroughly unimpressed by the former Ajax man’s trickery.

Speaking on BT Sport, he said: “I don’t know what that skill achieves. Even before that, he did nothing in the game. I think he needs a more entertaining skill. When you’re three of four-nil up, maybe.”

He then added: “I don’t know if that’s skill or entertainment. That’s being a clown.”

But Antony has now hit back at those comments by insisting he is simply replicating the idols he watched growing up.

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In a piece for The Players’ Tribune, he said: “If you think I’m just a clown, then you don’t understand my story.

“The art of Ronaldinho and Cristiano [Ronaldo] and Neymar inspired me as a child.

“I watched these Gods in amazement on stolen Wifi, then I went out to the concrete pitch to try to imitate their genius.

“This is my story. If you still don’t understand me, or if you still think that I am a clown, then I will just point to the ink on my arm…

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“Whoever comes from the favela knows a little bit of what I’ve been through.

“Those words speak for me. And for us all.”

Following the spin against Sheriff, Antony played no part in the 1-0 win over West Ham three days later due to an injury.

And that problem has kept him out until the World Cup break – but he is still expected to be available in Qatar after being selected in Tite’s final 26-man squad.

Read More on The Sun

Meanwhile, in the same piece for The Players’ Tribune, Antony opened up about his difficult childhood.

He specifically referenced stepping over a dead body in the street at the age of eight.


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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