Club want Man Utd to pay up transfer fee to clear debts

Manchester United spent big this summer and one club want the Premier League giants to pay up now rather than wait on installments, in order to help their own debts.

It was a big first summer in charge of United for Erik ten Hag, as he attempted to turn the club's fortunes around after years of underachieving under his predecessors.

Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen all arrived before the season started but the early struggles led to more investment being needed.

After a summer of trying, and failing, to sing a midfielder and a forward, Ten Hag managed to get in Casemiro and Antony late in the window.

The Brazilian, who cost the club around £84 million, scored on debut against Arsenal, jumping straight into the team just days after signing.

Antony made an instant impact at Old Trafford. Image: Alamy

His move wasn't just good news for Ajax's bank account, with former club Sao Paulo set to earn around £18 million from a clause in their deal with the Dutch team, when the forward left Brazil two years ago.

That money is due to them over five years, due to United spreading the cost of the player over the next half a decade. However, according to journalist Jorge Nicola, via Sport Witness, the Brazilians want that money now.

The report claims that Sao Paulo have issues with money and paying their players the image rights fees that they're currently owed, and wanted to use the money from Antony to clear the debt.

That money is expected sometime around the end of September and beginning of October but club president Julio Casares is hoping it will come sooner rather than later.

Antony during his Sao Paulo days. Image: Alamy

Casares is said to want to make sure all his players are paid up to date by the beginning of next month, with the club set to play in the Copa Sudamericana final on October 1st.

The Copa Sudamericana is South America's version of the Europa League, to the Copa Libertadores being the Champions League, and will be a huge game for the club.

They are set to take on Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in the final, in search of their second such title, having won it 10 years ago.

Antony whilst at Ajax. (Alamy)

Antony recently opened up about his humble beginnings in Brazil, living in a favela, in Osasco, "I was just a humble little boy from a favela," he said.

"I didn't have boots to play football. I didn't have a bedroom, I slept on the sofa.

"I lived in the very middle of the favela. Twenty yards from my house there were drug dealers. Sometimes you would be watching a game on a Sunday and there would be that smell, a smell of cannabis coming into the house.

"There were moments, my brother, my sister and I would cry and hug each other thinking about our lives.