Antony could return to the Manchester United side for their Champions League game with Galatasaray on Tuesday. Since early September, allegations of domestic abuse have sidelined the Brazilian winger. Antony, who vigorously denies these allegations, has not encountered any arrests or charges in either Brazil or the UK. He returned to training on Sunday, and manager Erik ten Hag has stated that he is considering him for the Group A match.
Ten Hag also announced that defender Lisandro Martinez will undergo foot surgery. The 25-year-old Argentina international missed the end of the last season due to a metatarsal fracture in April. Unfortunately, United expects him to remain sidelined for an additional three months due to an aggravation of the injury.
On a more positive note for United, there is a possibility of left-back Sergio Reguilon’s return, who was absent from Saturday’s home defeat to Crystal Palace due to injury. This potential return could allow Sofyan Amrabat to revert to his more familiar midfield position.
United currently confronts a substantial injury list, including full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, and Tyrell Malacia. The club’s Premier League season has had a disappointing start, with them currently in 10th place and having collected only nine points from seven games. Additionally, their Champions League campaign commenced with a 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich.
The 23-year-old, who was signed for £81.3 million from Ajax in August 2022, has made appearances in four games this season but has yet to score a goal or provide an assist. During the 2022-23 season, he scored eight goals in 44 appearances for United.
Regarding the allegations made against him, reports indicate that he spoke with Greater Manchester Police on Thursday, and they did not impose any restrictions on him following the interview. United sources affirm that he has presented evidence that supports his firm denials of the allegations.
As they prepare to face Galatasaray in their upcoming match, United will encounter some familiar faces in the opponent’s squad, particularly Wilfried Zaha. The forward joined the Turkish club in July after departing from Crystal Palace, where he made 458 appearances. Zaha also had a brief stint at United from 2013 to 2014 but made only two Premier League appearances during that time.
Galatasaray’s squad also includes former Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez and former Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira. However, they may be without on-loan Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech due to a recent injury. Okan Buruk’s team initiated their Champions League campaign with a 2-2 draw at home against FC Copenhagen and currently occupies second place in Turkey’s Super Lig, with six wins and a draw from seven games.