Manchester United has issued a statement in response to an ongoing police investigation into allegations that their player, Antony, attacked his ex-girlfriend. Gabriela Cavallin, Antony’s former girlfriend, has claimed that the Brazilian international assaulted her in a hotel room on January 14, the day after a Premier League match against Manchester City. She alleges that Antony headbutted and punched her, resulting in a cut to her head and damage to a breast implant.
Antony, who joined Manchester United in 2022 from Dutch club Ajax in a record £86 million transfer, has vehemently denied these allegations on social media. He asserts that he has fully cooperated with the police and insists that he has been “falsely accused of assault.” This marks the first time that Manchester United has broken its silence on the matter since the allegations surfaced.
In their statement, the club acknowledged the allegations against Antony and revealed that the police are actively conducting inquiries into the matter. They also emphasized their commitment to taking the allegations seriously and expressed concern for the potential impact on survivors of abuse. As of now, Manchester United has refrained from making any further comments, pending additional information.
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed its awareness of the allegations and noted that investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the report. They have chosen not to provide further comments at this time.
Antony’s exclusion from the Brazil squad is a direct consequence of the seriousness of these allegations. However, Manchester United has indicated that they will continue to select him despite the ongoing investigation.
Cavallin first made her allegations in an interview with Brazilian website UOL. She provided images of her alleged injuries and shared WhatsApp message screenshots, purportedly from Antony. Additionally, she claimed to have received medical treatment from an English doctor following the alleged incident at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Manchester in January. Cavallin has also reported separate incidents, including an accusation that Antony threw a glass cup at her, causing cuts to her fingers, after an away game against West Ham in London. These reports have been submitted to both Greater Manchester Police and Sao Paulo Civil Police.
Antony remains resolute in his denial of the allegations, emphasizing that his family has suffered in silence due to these accusations. He maintains that he has never encountered a situation like this before and expresses confidence that justice will prevail once the case is resolved.
