Antony: “I grew up in a favela where football was played day and night”
When Antony arrived at Ajax from São Paulo in 2020, he carried both expectations and a personal story shaped far from Europe. In this interview with Life After Football, he speaks about ambition, adapting to a new career chapter, and the family roots that shaped him.
Antony’s mentality has been shaped by ambition and a strong desire to prove himself. In this part of the conversation, he reflects on his goals, learning in a new environment, and what success means to him.
For the first time in Europe. This is an exciting new adventure and a special journey for you. What do you expect from it?
Antony: “My biggest goal is to win many titles and trophies. But of course that applies to every player. For now, nobody knows me in the Netherlands and Europe. I will first have to prove myself and show what I can do. It is a new start.”
You are considered a big talent. What do you think you need to improve in your game to succeed at Ajax?
“Thank you very much for the compliment! The Ajax style of play is of course very different from what I was used to at São Paulo. But every day I learn more about the positions, the positional changes and the tactics that Ajax uses. That requires some adaptation, but I think I’m picking it up quickly.”
When is your season successful?
“Success, in my opinion, stands or falls with winning titles. As a team, but also individual prizes of course. But if the whole team functions well, the titles will come automatically and then that is also my success.”
Moving from Brazil to Ajax marked a major turning point in Antony’s career. Here he talks about leaving home, adapting to a new football culture, and learning from experienced teammates.
You left São Paulo and Brazil behind. Was that difficult?
“It wasn’t easy. I had to leave many friends and family in Brazil behind, but when I played at São Paulo it was already my dream to play in the Champions League. To make that happen, I would eventually have to move to Europe. So leaving my city and country was unavoidable. Now that it has happened, I am living my dream and I’m happy to be in Amsterdam.”
You previously said you are a big fan of Dusan Tadic. Now you play with him and he is your captain. What is your relationship like with him?
“I have only been at Ajax for a short time, but from the first day I saw that Tadic is from another planet. Even though we have only trained together for a few weeks, I have already learned a lot from him. What I also find very beautiful is that from my very first minutes at the club he really helped me. From helping with the language to explaining things during training. He was super kind from the beginning and really looked after me. That gave me a very warm feeling.”
Many people were eagerly waiting for your arrival. There was even a special song written for you. What did you think of the welcome and the song “Bem-vindo Antony”?
“I was already very happy with my transfer to Ajax and arrived here very excited. But I totally did not expect the song. Danilo Pereira, David Neres, singer Sarita Lorena and of course Ajax put a lot of time and effort into it. When I heard it, it made me glow with pride even more. Everyone also copied the ‘L’ symbol after scoring, which refers to my son Lorenzo. That made me so proud. Who gets a special song when they arrive somewhere? The good feeling I already had only became stronger, especially when I wore the Ajax shirt for the first time.”
Behind Antony the footballer is the story of a boy who grew up in a neighbourhood where football was everywhere. His childhood, family support and experiences on the streets shaped both his personality and his playing style.
How did you experience your childhood in Osasco?
“I grew up in a favela where football was played practically day and night. Together with my brother I was always playing. I’m still very young actually, I’m still in my youth years. But with this transfer a dream has already come true, that I can play for a club like Ajax.”
So you were really a street footballer?
“Yes, partly out of necessity as well. There was no pitch and there were no good facilities nearby. So we simply played in the street. There is nothing wrong with that. It is a great school because you learn a lot technically.”
Did you always know that you wanted to become a footballer?
“Yes, definitely. My brother inspired me from a very young age to become a footballer. He also played a lot on the streets. Unlike me, he never got the chance to make it. He was good, but not good enough to reach the top level. But through me he now experiences the dream and the life that I lead.”
Ready for more?
Check out the full interview in magazine issue 65.
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