Five wingers Man United should immediately target after hearing Ruben Amorim’s latest Antony verdict – opinion

Much like Marcus Rashford at Aston Villa, Antony has also found a new lease of life in a Real Betis shirt ever since leaving Manchester United on loan.

Even before the deal involving the Brazilian took place, TBR Football exclusively revealed that Manchester United felt Antony could succeed at Betis due to how Vitor Roque had turned his form around under Manuel Pellegrini’s tutelage — a hypothesis that has come true. In just five games in La Liga for Real Betis, Antony has proven that there is still a player in him despite his forgettable spell at United, registering two goals and two assists.

The players, coaching staff and decision-makers at Manchester United would have every reason to be puzzled about why the 25-year, who struggled as must as he did at Old Trafford has become an instant hit at the Benito Villamarin Stadium.

But Ruben Amorim suggested that the sole reason why Antony is flying currently is because La Liga is not as physically demanding as the Premier League — a trait the Portuguese manager might feel the former Ajax winger lacked to make his mark on English football.

Amorim shed light on Antony’s success in Spain while speaking to TNT Sports: “If you don’t have physicality, you will struggle a lot.”

“Antony is so much better now in Spain. It’s a lot of factors [behind his much-improved form] but I guarantee you, it’s physicality.”

There are five wingers Manchester United should perhaps target who are far more physically gifted than Antony and fit the demands Ruben Amorim has effectively set out for his wide forwards — with a case to be made for contentions plans to be made for Alejandro Garnacho in case he leaves in the summer as well.

Jamie Gittens is the anthesis to Antony

One of them is Jamie Gittens. The former Manchester City wideman is having a breakthrough campaign for Borussia Dortmund this season, registering 11 goals and four assists in all competitions this season.

Bundesliga’s official website has revealed that the Englishman’s top speed of 35.96 km/h ranks in 10th place out of all the players playing in the German top-flight currently — which emphasises how rapid he is.

Ruben Amorim, in particular will be particularly happy about Gittens’ pace as unlike Antony, he simply breezes past full-backs and leaves them for dead — which was best demonstrated when the 20-year-old left Konrad Laimer for dead and scored a stunning solo goal against Bayern Munich in November.

Aside from his athleticism, what should impress United about the youngster is that he can already produce end product unlike Antony — who amassed a measly 17 goals and 19 assists in total during a two-and-a-half year spell in a red shirt.

If Manchester United do show interest in him, the worry for them is that Arsenal could be the favourites to sign Gittens and are undeniably a more attractive proposition for any player than a woeful Red Devils side.

Ruben Amorim would love Antoine Semenyo

While a potential fear of the unknown could exist in Gittens’ case due to his ascent at senior level emerging in Germany, that would simply not be the case with Antoine Semenyo. Semenyo knows what it takes to thrive in English football, from first making an impression for Bristol City in the National League to becoming one of the most in-form wingers in the Premier League at AFC Bournemouth.

Ruben Amorim might have a valid case when it comes to hinting at Antony’s lack of physicality but that does not apply to the Cherries winger whatsoever, who is three inches taller than the United loanee at 6’0 and one of the strongest forwards in the English top-flight.

Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City “couldn’t match up” to Bournemouth’s “intensity” in their 2-1 defeat at the Vitality Stadium and one of the reasons behind that was Semenyo bullying his defenders.

Guardiola said via HaytersTV: “We couldn’t match up to the intensity.”

“All the situations with the long balls, we couldn’t win it. And when you don’t win these types of balls to Semenyo and others, our central defenders and strikers have to defend deeper.”

The statistics back up Semenyo being an incredible athlete as well, winning the third-most duels (130) duels, the joint-most possession (23) in the final third in the Premier League (data released in November) while also registering seven goals and four assists. Furthermore, Semenyo, who Arsenal admire could play on the left flank and be a potential upgrade on Garnacho and on the right to replace Antony if he is sold permanently.

Amorim could reunite with Geovany Quenda

TBR Football uncovered that Ruben Amorim is keen on signing Geovany Quenda at Manchester United, who would perhaps be the safest bet to replace Antony due to having worked with his countryman at Sporting CP.

Quenda, who is a natural right-winger operated as a wing-back under Amorim and could provide cover in two separate positions.

At just 17, what stands out about the Portuguese teenager is aside from his evident technical gifts is how physically ready he looks at the senior level for such a young player. For the versatile talent to have the engine to bomb up and down the pitch and make his presence felt both offensively and defensively are characteristics that point towards him being a potential success in the Premier League.

While Quenda registered just two goals and two assists under Amorim, with the Sporting wonderkid just being a teenager, playing out of position and that too in his first season of senior football, his meagre goal contributions should not be considered an obstacle that stops United from trying to prise the gifted prospect away from Lisbon.

Matias Soule is tailor-made for Manchester United’s system

Matias Soule is another player who could instantly take the Osasco-born forward’s spot if Manchester United decided to make a move for him.

Much like the United star, Soule is also a right-winger by trade and a left-footer. But unlike Antony, who is a traditional winger, the Roma sensation can also play as a number 10 — which would appeal to Ruben Amorim who plays two attacking midfielders in his system.

Additionally, where the former Juventus attacker trumps a wideman like the former is that while he can drive past players at full speed and leave full-backs in their tracks, the Argentine also has the quick feet and ability to manipulate the ball in tight spaces to get away from defenders.

The only worry for Manchester United if they did scout Soule is that unlike last season, where he was phenomenal for Frosinone on loan, the 21-year-old has not had the same impact at Roma.

But the highly-rated talent is still quite young and standing at 6’0 as well, he possesses the technical and physical traits to come into his own if Ruben Amorim gets his hands on him.

Man United’s dream signing would be Rafael Leao

Rafael Leao would be the dream signing for Manchester United.

It seems unlikely that the Portuguese international, who is contracted to AC Milan until 2028 would sign for a United side that might take years just to make a return to the Champions League. However, Chelsea have asked about Leao’s availability despite potentially missing out on top four this season and having last participated in Europe’s elite competition in 2023.

The 25-year-old could singlehandedly elevate Manchester United, being one of Europe’s most complete forwards — having proven in Serie A and the Champions League that he can make life hell for full-backs with his nifty footwork and searing pace while simultaneously producing consistent output.

Leao has amassed 74 goals and 55 assists in 275 appearances for Milan, which is especially impressive considering he made the move to the Italian giants as a teenager.

But whether the former Lille speedster, who is 6’2 and one of the premier athletes the game has to offer joins Manchester United if an approach is made would depend on how much he is smitten by their rich history than their dark present.