SIMON JORDAN has labelled Manchester United star Antony “£90million worth of c**p”.
The former Crystal Palace owner tore into the Red Devils’ transfer spending while speaking on his talkSPORT show.
AFPErik Ten Hag barking instructions during United’s clash with Manchester City.[/caption]
United splashed a whopping £220m during the summer window last season as they aimed to back new manager Erik Ten Hag.
But the Dutch boss bemoaned the tightening of United’s purse strings in interview with Sky Sports this week, after club chiefs failed to spend anything in January when United were seemingly in the title race.
Bitter rivals Liverpool – who United ultimately pipped to fourth place – beat them to a £37m deal for Cody Gakpo.
And United instead signed Dutch striker Wout Weghorst and Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer on loan, while releasing Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ten Hag said: “The club knows that if you want to play top four, if you want to compete for trophies in this tough league, you have to invest, otherwise you won’t progress because other clubs will.
“We saw it in the winter. All the clubs around us invested. We didn’t and still we made it. So I am really happy and proud of my team.”
Reacting to Ten Hag’s comments, Jordan said the Old Trafford boss had mismanaged the budget he was given.
He said: “Okay, Ten Hag. You should have spent £170m in August and £50m in January. Would that have suited you better?
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“No, you decided to fire your bolt early and spend £220m in the August window.
“What have you done with that? One of the huge parts of it was Antony.”
Responding to co-host Jim White’s suggestion that Jordan “has a thing” about Antony and his price-tag in particular, he added:
“Because he’s c**p. He’s £90m worth of c**p!
“He’s spent £220m. What he said was the £220m, thank you I’ll have that, but what have you done for me lately?
“None of the reasons why I was unsuccessful in January is down to me. I have not made Antony better and he has not delivered outcomes, but I got you to spend £90m on him.”
The Brazil winger has returned eight goals and three assists in his 44 appearances for Manchester United this season.
The winger was stretchered off during United’s 2-1 final day victory over Fulham but Ten Hag has said he believes the winger could be fit for Saturday’s Manchester derby in the FA Cup final.
While Antony’s £90m transfer fee last summer means he has experienced the most scrutiny, the signings of Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia during the summer proved to be more successful.
United are rumoured to be looking to splash the cash again this summer, with West Ham’s Declan Rice and Tottenham’s Harry Kane linked with big-money moves to Manchester.