Marc Overmars is pleased that Antony Matheus dos Santos, or Antony for short, has been able to adapt quickly to Ajax. The twenty-year-old attacker made the switch from São Paulo to Ajax this summer for up to 21.75 million euros and makes a strong impression in his first weeks in Amsterdam. Last Sunday, the Brazilian even took the decisive hit against Sparta Rotterdam (0-1). “We had hoped for this, but did not expect it”, says Overmars.

“It’s also just not predictable, but a nice reference for me are always the other players”, continues the director of football affairs of Ajax in conversation with Football International. “That’s what I used to know from my own playing period: after two practice sessions, you know what someone’s up to. In Austria during the training camp I spoke to a couple of players, who were clearly impressed. That’s nice to hear.”

Antony: “I’m a powerful, fast player and 1-on-1 strong.

Overmars explains that Antony had been on the radar for three years at Ajax. The sports director indicates that there was good timing. “At a time when many hijackers were lying on the coast to watch the new generation of talents, Antony had a setback. The big clubs had shifted their attention, but we knew what he could do and partly because of that we could finish other clubs too soon, when Antony got in better shape last year”.

“There are a hundred clubs with scouts in Brazil, they all want the same thing”, the former Dutch national continues. “When we agreed that there was a time to get Antony, we wanted to move on. I have a very strong feeling about that. The people at Ajax know that too. Then we have to act, because it could be a game against the clock.”

The fact that Ajax has shown itself again at European level in recent years helped to snare Antony, says Overmars. “It appealed directly to his imagination. And with David Neres we have of course also made a name for ourselves. He has developed with us, also as an international of Brazil. He also came from São Paulo, we have a good connection with that club.”