Antony has spoken at length to ESPN Brazil about how becoming a father has reshaped his life, admitting that the difficulties of his Manchester United spell forced him to mature in ways he had not expected.
This time presenting himself as a parent, a man of faith and someone trying to rebuild beyond football and Manchester United, the winger explained that his two children are now central to every decision he makes.
“That video with my kids sums up my life. When I’m at home, they are everything for me. I want to be the hero of my children, for them to see me as an example. Even with the mistakes I’ve made, they helped me become a better father and a better man,” he said.
“I’ll always carry my past”
Antony stressed that his family kept him grounded during the hardest moments in England. They reminded him of his background in São Paulo, when the family slept on a sofa in the slums.
“When things were very difficult at United, my family would tell me: it was harder back then. Look at the life you’re giving your kids now. That perspective helped me to keep going,” he revealed.
He also pointed to the influence of his own parents, recalling how they raised him in challenging circumstances. “My father and mother protected me from a lot in the slums. I’m very grateful for the example they gave me. That’s what I try to pass on to my children now,” he explained.
Antony said he wants his kids, when they are older, to understand the sacrifices he made: “Today they have opportunities because I went through all of that. I’ll always carry my past with me.”
The forward underlined that faith continues to guide him, but it is the role of fatherhood that now defines him most. “Whenever things are difficult, I look at them. First I look to God, and then to my children. Everything I do from now on will be for them,” he said.
Antony insists that, whatever is said about his Manchester United years, he has already found a legacy that matters more. Showing his children, and many others who grew up in similar conditions, that dreams can be realised.
For supporters at Old Trafford, it is a reminder that behind the failed transfer fee is a player who now frames his story in terms of family, responsibility and growth.
