One of the keys to the tie between Sevilla and United is that Mendilibar’s team can stop Antony Matheus Dos Santos (23 years old). He is the most valuable player in the squad along with Bruno Fernandes with a value of 75 million euros, according to Transfermarkt. The Brazilian was one of the architects of the eliminations of Barça and Betis.
«We know the quality and history of Sevilla, not only in Spain, but in Europe. It is a team that has a long tradition in this competition with all the achievements it has achieved. We have to be one hundred percent to beat them. I think we have the conditions to beat them, but we can’t be wrong. It is a great match in Europe and we want to continue with our objective of advancing to the round”, he assured LA RAZÓN.
The attacker is full of praise for the Spanish clubs. “We have already seen the quality and level that other teams in the Spanish League have. They have great footballers and experienced coaches. Sevilla will come out with everything and it is important to be focused to beat them”, Antony qualifies
Antony was already decisive for United by scoring the second goal of the English team against Barça. “It was a very special moment. I was looking for that goal and it came out in the best way. An important goal that guaranteed us the classification. Barcelona had been unbeaten for a long time and we managed to beat them. We knew of our potential and that we could beat Barcelona. We play seriously and with respect. This meeting has a lot of history. The match against Barça is something to remember”, says the footballer who has accumulated seven goals and one assist.
A childhood in “hell”
Antony’s story is an example of overcoming. linked to São Paulo since his childhood, he signed for Ajax in the 2020-21 season. His numbers (31 goals and 27 assists in 134 games) led him to complete a transfer worth 100 million euros to United in the summer of 2022. Despite the fact that he got a contract until 2027 and participated in the World Cup with Brazil, the player does not forget his origins. And it is that, the soccer player grew up in the favela that is located in Osasco, one of the most dangerous in the country. “I grew up in the favela of hell and I saw a lot of things like drugs, robberies and corpses on the ground.. I was still a child and it had a huge impact on me. I lost many friends throughout my life who ended up not having the same opportunities as me », he affirms.
The footballer places a lot of emphasis on the help he had from his family. «I thank my parents for keeping me on a good path, because we know that it is not easy to be a footballer. I had a very strong structure with them, who always guided me. I was able to fulfill my dream and I repeat that this is like winning a big trophy, like the Champions League, the World Cup… Thank God we managed to go on the right path. I went against many difficulties, but I always had the support of my family. We went through a lot of bad things, but today I look back with pride on where I came from. I can give them a better life. I always play for them”, concludes one of the United stars who is measured against Sevilla at Old Trafford.