In a recent turn of events, Manchester United's striker, Antony Santos, finds himself at the heart of a controversy. Brazil has made the decision to exclude the player from their squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru. This decision comes in light of serious assault allegations made by Antony's former girlfriend, Gabriela Cavallin.
The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the exclusion on their official website, stating that the decision was made to "preserve the alleged victim, the player, the Brazilian National Team, and the CBF." As a replacement for Antony, Brazil has called up Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus.
Gabriela Cavallin, a DJ and influencer, has provided evidence in the form of photographs and WhatsApp messages to support her claims. She alleges that Antony first assaulted her last year while she was pregnant with their child during a holiday in Brazil. According to her, Antony became enraged after seeing her in a nightclub and subsequently assaulted her. Cavallin also claims that Antony attacked her again earlier this year in a Manchester hotel room, resulting in injuries that required medical attention. Another alleged incident occurred in May, where Antony supposedly tried to attack her with a glass during an altercation.
The couple, who dated for two years, lived together while Antony played for the Dutch Eredivisie side Ajax in Amsterdam. Cavallin even moved to Manchester when Antony transferred to Manchester United in 2022. She alleges that one of the attacks was even witnessed by Antony's mother and a friend. Since these incidents, Cavallin has returned to Brazil but claims that Antony continues to send her threats, leading her to seek "protective measures" from the police.
Antony has vehemently denied these allegations. In a statement on social media, he said, "I can calmly state that the accusations are false and that the evidence already produced and the other evidence that will be produced demonstrate that I am innocent of the accusations made." He further expressed his trust in the ongoing police investigations to reveal the truth about his innocence.
Both the Sao Paulo and Greater Manchester police departments are currently investigating these claims. Meanwhile, Manchester United, who acquired Antony from Ajax for £84 million in the summer of 2022, finds itself in a precarious situation. The Brazilian striker has scored eight goals and provided three assists in 48 appearances for the club.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another controversy involving Manchester United player Mason Greenwood, who was recently forced to leave the club even though rape charges against him were dropped.
The football community and fans worldwide await further developments on this matter, as the implications could be significant for both the player and the club.
