Manchester United flop Antony ‘needs time’ to adapt to the Premier League despite being at the club for almost two years, according to Ryan Babel.

United spent £86m on Antony from Ajax in 2022, but the Brazilian winger’s performance this season has been dreadful.

In the 2023-24 season, Antony has managed only one goal and one assist in 27 Premier League matches so far for the Red Devils.

The 24-year-old recently came under fire for taunting Coventry City players during an FA Cup match, while he has attempted to divert attention from his sub par performances.

Former Liverpool player Babel, who was once Antony’s teammate, has defended the winger and believes he still has the potential to become a ‘great’ player for United.

‘A player like Antony needs time to adapt in England,’ Babel told Ladbrokes Fanzone.

‘He’s 24 now, and I think he learned a lot – the hard way – this season. The gap between Holland and the Premier League is massive.

‘So the things that have worked for him in the Eredivisie, haven’t necessarily worked for him in England.

‘I definitely believe he’s learned things the hard way, but he’ll soon be able to reset and prepare again for next season.

‘I’m sure he’ll learn from his mistakes, and if he gets the chance, he can still be great for Manchester United.

‘Knowing what he’s capable of, and taking into consideration what’s been a really challenging year for him, if Antony is able to score at least 10 goals next season, that should be considered a decent campaign for him.

‘We don’t know how much he’ll play next season, but 10 goals, for me, is an acceptable return for him.

‘Especially when you consider what other players in similar positions are delivering.’

Manchester United are set to visit Crystal Palace on Monday in the Premier League, May 6th, aiming to recover from their recent slump, which has involved losing points towards the end of games.