Sports
Brazil police close investigation into Man Utd’s Antony
Brazilian police have concluded their investigation into domestic abuse allegations against Manchester United winger Antony without bringing any charges. However, the case remains under review by the prosecutor’s office, which could lead to further action.
Antony, 24, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, is still under investigation by Greater Manchester Police in the UK. The allegations, made by three women in September last year, have not resulted in his arrest or charges in either Brazil or the UK.
A statement from Antony’s legal team confirmed the closure of the investigation by the Civil Police’s Women’s Defense Precinct in São Paulo without any indictment. “The defence has always believed that the investigations, that run under confidentiality, would prove Antony’s innocence,” the statement said.
Despite the conclusion of the police inquiry, the case is not entirely closed, as the prosecutor’s office continues to review the findings and may initiate an independent investigation if deemed necessary.
Antony, who became Manchester United’s second-most expensive signing with his £82 million transfer from Ajax in September 2022, faced allegations from his ex-partner Gabriela Cavallin, and later from Rayssa de Freitas and Ingrid Lana, who claimed he assaulted them in 2022. He has denied all the accusations.
The situation also drew the attention of Greater Manchester Police, as one of the alleged incidents reportedly took place at a Manchester hotel. Manchester United granted Antony a leave of absence with full pay in September 2023 to address the allegations. He returned to training at the end of that month after voluntarily speaking with the police and resumed playing in early October.
Antony’s club manager, Erik ten Hag, acknowledged in January that the ongoing matter had impacted the player’s performance on the field.
British tennis player Jack Draper has secured a spot in the Japan Open last 16 after defeating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in straight sets. Draper, ranked world number 20, claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory, marking his first win since his US Open semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner earlier this month.
The 22-year-old’s triumph in Tokyo comes as a welcome return to form following a challenging Davis Cup in Manchester, where he lost both of his singles matches to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, contributing to Great Britain’s failure to reach the knockout stages.
After a tightly contested first set against world number 103 Bellucci, Draper dominated the second set, building a 5-1 lead before closing out the match. He will face Polish second seed Hubert Hurkacz in the next round on Friday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Yerson Mosquera is expected to miss the remainder of the season following a serious knee injury sustained in Wolves’ 3-1 loss to Aston Villa. The 23-year-old Colombian twisted his knee after a collision with Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the 82nd minute and was stretchered off the pitch.
Scans confirmed that Mosquera suffered damage to both the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which will require surgery. Wolves’ head of high performance, Phil Hayward, said, “We will be visiting specialists to finalise the plan for surgery, and it’s highly unlikely he will feature again this season.”
Mosquera had been a key part of Wolves’ defense this season, starting all five Premier League games after returning from a loan spell at Villarreal. His absence further deepens Wolves’ defensive issues, as they did not secure a replacement for Max Kilman following his £40m move to West Ham.
Wolves, currently winless and sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, face Liverpool at home in their next match.
Raphael Varane, former defender for Real Madrid, Manchester United, and the French national team, has retired from professional football at the age of 31. Varane, who joined Italian side Como in July, sustained a knee injury on his debut, prompting his decision to step away from playing. He will remain at Como in a non-playing capacity.
In an emotional Instagram post, Varane wrote, “It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct,” explaining his desire to leave the sport on his own terms.
Varane began his career at Lens before a decade-long stint at Real Madrid, where he won 18 major trophies, including three La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. He later joined Manchester United in 2021, making 95 appearances and winning the Carabao Cup in 2022.
Internationally, Varane earned 93 caps for France, winning the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League. Reflecting on his career, Varane expressed pride in both his achievements and staying true to his values.
He hinted at future projects with Como, adding, “Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.” Varane has also been vocal about the dangers of head injuries in football, having played through concussions during his career, and he has called for better protection for players.
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