Antony admits he was determined to force through his move from Ajax to Manchester United.

The forward missed two Eredivisie games and trained on his own in an attempt to force through a move to Erik ten Hag's side, and even went public to express his desire to move to England.

Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder told Antony he would be fined, but a move was eventually completed, with the Brazil international describing it as a "dream".

"I went through a lot of difficult moments in my life," he told United's website. "I know that this will be another challenge. I went through a lot in the past – no football boots, nothing to eat, three or four in the morning bailing water out of my house as it had flooded.

"They were very difficult times but I went through it all with a smile. Those moments have contributed to everything I'm now experiencing.

"My mum was calling me every day, my dad was messaging me, my sister as well: 'What's happening? Has it worked out? Anything wrong?' They seemed more anxious than I was. When I told them the news they cried a lot.

"I've been dreaming about this, I've been losing sleep thinking about it. My head and heart were here. Erik [ten Hag] knows, everyone at Manchester United knows about my desire to be here and wear the United shirt."