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| Accused Man United Winger Antony Image via Facebook/Antony Santos |
Greater Manchester Police are investigating Manchester United winger Antony over allegations of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin. The Brazilian, who strenuously denies the allegations, has been dropped from the Brazil national squad pending the police investigation. Gabriela Cavallin claims she was headbutted and punched by Antony in a Manchester hotel room the day after United's 2-1 victory over Manchester City on January 14, which resulted in a cut to her head and a breast implant being damaged. Cavallin received treatment from an English doctor in her room at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Manchester following the alleged attack.
The news comes just a fortnight after the club announced that Mason Greenwood was to leave the club despite charges of attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and controlling and coercive behaviour being dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Greenwood has consistently denied all charges against him. In an interview with the Brazilian website UOL, published on Monday, Cavallin also alleged that she suffered a cut finger while trying to protect herself after accusing Antony of throwing a glass cup at her.
The incident allegedly occurred at a house on May 8, the day after United lost 1-0 to West Ham in London. Brazil axed Antony from their squad for World Cup qualifying matches against Bolivia on Friday and Peru four days later and called up Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus in his place, explaining the claims against him influenced their decision. The Brazilian Football Confederation informed that the athlete has been withdrawn from the Brazilian team due to the facts that became public this Monday, involving striker Antony from Manchester United, which need to be investigated.
Cavallin claims she was subjected to a series of attacks by Antony between June last year and May this year. She alleges Antony first attacked her on June 1 2022, while she was pregnant on holiday and claimed the 23-year-old United player threatened to throw her out of a moving car at speed. Sao Paulo Civil Police are investigating Cavallin’s claims after she filed a report to them in June accusing Antony of “domestic violence, threat and bodily injury”. Cavallin also filed a separate complaint to the Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Antony, who joined United from Ajax in an £85.5 million deal in September last year, denies any wrongdoing. He claims that he initially handled the issue thoughtfully and with respect, providing due clarifications to the police authority. The police inquest is under cover of justice and, therefore, cannot publicise its content. However, the winger can confidently say that the accusations are false and that the evidence already produced and more to be produced show that he is innocent of the allegations.
Manchester United declined to comment when approached for a response. Antony's agent said they were silent because of an investigative process at a police station in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Greenwood, who has not played for United since he was first arrested in January last year, joined Spanish club Getafe on loan on Friday.
