Antony has rejoined the Manchester United squad and will be available for training and matches after meeting with police in relation to assault charges.
The club granted the winger a leave of absence on September 10 after his former girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin accused him of violent behavior, and two other Brazilian women made similar claims.
Antony, who has rejected all three women’s allegations against him, had remained in Brazil but returned to Manchester on Tuesday and met with police for five hours on Thursday after willingly attending an interview. He was allowed to leave after the meeting with no constraints. In addition, he presented proof to back up his denials of the charges.
Antony’s reintegration into the squad is said to be influenced by the fact that he has not been arrested or charged in Brazil or the United Kingdom. However, the club will continue to monitor the issue as long as police investigations continue.
A statement from United on Friday read: “Since allegations were first made in June, Antony has cooperated with police inquiries in both Brazil and the UK, and he continues to do so.
“As Antony’s employer, Manchester United has decided that he will resume training at Carrington, and be available for selection, while police inquiries proceed. This will be kept under review pending further developments in the case.
“As a club we condemn acts of violence and abuse. We recognise the importance of safeguarding all those involved in this situation, and acknowledge the impact these allegations have on survivors of abuse.”
Antony is scheduled to train on Friday and could face Crystal Palace in the Premier League the following day.
Cavallin originally accused Antony of assault in June, when the DJ filed a police complaint against him in Sao Paulo. Antony joined United from Ajax for £85 million ($104 million). Antony reported for pre-season training and traveled on the club’s tour of the United States before starting all four of the Red Devils’ first Premier League games.
He traveled to join Brazil for their World Cup qualifiers in early September, but was later dropped after Cavallin gave an interview to the Brazilian newspaper UOL in which he clarified the claims. She stated that in one episode, he headbutted her and pushed her, causing one of her breast implants to dislocate. She further claimed that he threatened to throw her out of a moving car in the summer of 2022 while in Brazil, and that in May 2023 he threw a glass at her, injuring her finger.
Ingrid Lana, a businesswoman, claimed Antony had invited her to England in September 2022 and had grabbed her, forced her against a wall, and attempted to kiss her. Another lady, Rayssa De Freitas, said she filed a complaint with Sao Paulo Civil Police in May 2022, three months before Antony signed with United, stating Antony assaulted her and required medical treatment after an argument in a car after a night out in Brazil.
United will be chastised for reintroducing Antony after a number of charity expressed their outrage when the charges originally surfaced, pushing the club to remove the player from the squad.
After allegations of attempted rape, violence, and coercive and controlling behavior against the striker were dismissed, the club faced tremendous criticism for preparing to bring him back into the squad. Greenwood has subsequently joined Getafe on loan and played in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Athletic Bilbao.
