Antony has returned to training with Manchester United as the Brazilian winger returns to the fold amid domestic abuse allegations against him.
He was photographed arriving at the club’s Carrington training complex in the back of a blacked out Mercedes van on Saturday morning.
Antony will train while his team-mates take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
The 23-year-old returned from South America on Tuesday, where he has been on fully-paid leave fighting allegations he attacked three women.
Antony voluntarily met with Greater Manchester Police for questioning on Thursday. He was not arrested or detained and went home without restrictions.
Antony has returned to training with Manchester United in the back of a Mercedes van on Saturday morning after he was cleared to return to the first-team squad
The Brazilian winger will train on Saturday while his team-mates prepare to face Crystal Palace
Manager Erik ten Hag said he hoped Antony’s return wouldn’t serve as a distraction for United
United believe the £82million footballer has given enough evidence to support his strong denials of the allegations.
The club cleared him to return to first-team duties with the women’s team also informed of his impending return to the training base.
United said in a statement that Antony’s situation ‘will be kept under review pending further developments in the case’.
It read: ‘Since allegations were first made in June, Antony has cooperated with police inquiries in both Brazil and the UK, and he continues to do so.
‘As Antony’s employer, Manchester United has decided that he will resume training at Carrington, and be available for selection, while police inquiries proceed. This will be kept under review pending further developments in the case.
‘As a club we condemn acts of violence and abuse. We recognise the importance of safeguarding all those involved in this situation, and acknowledge the impact these allegations have on survivors of abuse.’
Manager Erik ten Hag on Friday insisted Antony’s return will not create a distraction. ‘Everything has been made clear in the statement,’ he said. ‘We will focus on the games. He will do as well.
Antony’s ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin has alleged Antony attacked her on four occasions
‘I’ve spoken to him, but that doesn’t give the impression how he is, how his mental status is. I can’t tell at this moment.’
As revealed by Mail Sport, in a bid to ensure the women’s team felt comfortable at his return to the training ground, Mail Sport understands director of football John Murtough and chief communications officer Ellie Norman held a team meeting to explain the club’s reasoning.
Headed up by Norman, who arrived at United last year following four years in Formula One, the meeting went through the background and facts of Antony’s case, while also providing the learnings implemented from the handling of Mason Greenwood‘s case.
It is understood players were offered one-to-one meetings if they wanted to discuss it further, but no issues were raised and Marc Skinner’s squad were said to be positive about the explanations provided.
Antony has missed the last four games since the international break after being dropped by Brazil and put on leave by United to stay in South America to fight the allegations.
He has been accused by his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin that he attacked on four occasions in total, including twice in the UK.
She alleges that the former Ajax winger, who joined United for £82m last year, assaulted her at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Manchester on January 15, damaging one of her breast implants. She also claims that Antony cut her finger to the bone in June when he threw a glass at her.
Another woman, 33-year-old banker Ingrid Lana, has come forward with a similar accusation. A third accuser, Rayssa de Freitas, is understood to have dropped her allegation.
The player made an emotional TV appearance in his homeland earlier this month to deny all the allegations.
A meeting was held with the women’s team to ensure they felt comfortable about his return
Director of football John Murtough (right) and the club’s chief communications officer held the meeting to explain the club’s reasoning
Speaking to Brazilian TV channel SBT earlier this month, Antony said: ‘I know the truth and it will come out. I know many are butchering me, but the truth always comes out.
‘I’m 100 per cent sure I’ve never touched a woman, and I’ll come up with the evidence. I have never assaulted and I will never assault. I’m sure I’ve never committed physical violence. I have a mother, a sister, and I would never want this to happen to them.’
Having beaten Crystal Palace 3-0 in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday night, United now face them again in league action on Saturday afternoon.
They then play Galatasaray at Old Trafford in the Champions League on Tuesday next week.
