Manchester United reportedly failed to uncover an assault allegation against Antony before completing his transfer. The club did not know that a police report had been filed in Brazil over the Brazilian winger’s alleged assault on a woman more than three months prior to his £85 million move to Ajax in September last year, according to The Telegraph. The report states that Rayssa De Freitas filed the complaint with the Sao Paulo Civil Police in May 2022, alleging that Antony and another woman were involved in an incident after a night of partying in Brazil, an argument in a car ending with hospital treatment for De Freitas. United has maintained that due diligence checks were carried out on the winger but that no evidence of domestic abuse allegations or police investigations in his past surfaced during those checks. The Telegraph also notes that the club only learned of the police report after reporting in Brazil this month, when the information was shared by the player’s lawyers. Antony is presently separated from Manchester as the club addresses the allegations.
Publicly, Antony’s former partner Gabriela Cavalin has claimed multiple attacks by the Brazil international between June 2022 and May 2023, a claim he denies. United’s due diligence process reportedly did not reveal that former defender Marcos Rojo was investigated by police over an alleged bottle attack on two men in Argentina before his 2014 signing from Sporting Lisbon. That case reportedly ended with an out-of-court settlement and a dismissal. Separately, it emerged that Geoff Konopka, who led United’s women’s team from 1983 to 2001, attended a match at Old Trafford last year despite a ban from the Football Association security system and a prior conviction. Konopka spent four years in prison in 2011 and was listed on the sex offenders register for ten years after being found guilty of multiple offenses against underage girls.
In the broader context, the unfolding situation illustrates how clubs rely on due diligence processes to disclose potential risks connected to players. The dynamic also places emphasis on the importance of transparent communication between clubs, players, and legal representatives when sensitive allegations arise. As investigations continue and more details surface, the football community watches closely to understand how these matters will influence squad planning, disciplinary considerations, and the long-term reputational impact for all parties involved. (Cited by Goal)