“In life, we suffer enough. We worry enough. We cry enough. But in football? With a ball at your feet, you should only feel joy. I was born a dribbler,” Antony wrote about his playing style for The Players Tribune.
He added: “It is part of my roots. It is the gift that took me from the slums to the Theatre of Dreams. I will never change the way I play, because it is not a style, it is me. It is a part of me.
“A part of our story as Brazilians. If you just watch one 10 second clip of me, then you will not understand. Nothing I do is a joke. Everything has a purpose. To go forward with boldness, to strike fear into the opponent, to create space, to make a difference for my team.
“If you think I’m just a clown, then you don’t understand my story. The art of Ronaldinho and Cristiano and Neymar inspired me as a child. I watched these Gods in amazement on stolen Wifi, then I went out to the concrete pitch to try to imitate their genius.
“Even if you are born in hell, that is a small gift from heaven. When people ask, ‘What’s the point of your style? What message are you sending?’ Brother, I am sending a message home.”
Antony has received a lot of criticism since joining Man United about his playing style, with pundits like Paul Scholes lambasting his 360 degree turn skill in the Sheriff Tiraspol game.
However, the Brazilian winger does not seem to be bothered by it at all and will continue playing like he is right now.
