Brazilian winger Antony has opened up about the valuable advice he received from Cristiano Ronaldo before making his Manchester United debut, describing the Portuguese superstar as a calming influence during one of the most important moments of his career.
Antony joined Manchester United from Dutch club Ajax in August 2022 and made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut in a Premier League match against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
The goal helped United secure a 3-1 victory and marked a memorable start to his career in England.
Reflecting on that day, Antony revealed that Ronaldo played a key role in helping him deal with the pressure and nerves ahead of the match.
“In my first match against Arsenal, I scored a goal, and before the game he told me, ‘Hey, mané,’” Antony recalled in a recent interview. “Then he said, ‘Calm down, pass the first balls calmly, and the rest you know how to do.’”
The Brazilian admitted he was nervous before stepping onto the pitch in front of more than 70,000 fans at Old Trafford.
However, Ronaldo’s words helped him settle down and focus on his game.
“Playing in a team with Cristiano Ronaldo makes you feel the pressure, but he told me, ‘Calm down, you’re not here without reason. You know what you’re doing,’” Antony said.
The former Ajax star went on to score during the match, delivering exactly the kind of performance expected from a player who arrived with a big transfer fee and high expectations.
One of the most memorable moments came when Antony was substituted, and Ronaldo entered the game in his place.
“There’s a photo of me going out and him coming in,” Antony said. “After that, he spoke with me. It was something amazing.”
When asked jokingly if Ronaldo had technically been his substitute that day, Antony laughed and replied: “Yes.”
Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, spent two spells at Manchester United and remains an influential figure for many younger players.
