Man Utd taking Antony domestic abuse allegations ‘seriously’

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Manchester United has reiterated that they are taking domestic abuse allegations made against winger Antony seriously.

The 23-year-old was taken off the Brazil team on Monday because of what his ex-girlfriend, Gabriela Cavallin, said about him.

“Manchester United acknowledges the allegations made against Antony and notes that the police are conducting enquiries,” United said in a statement.

“As a club, we are taking this matter seriously, with consideration of the impact of these allegations and subsequent reporting will have on survivors of abuse.”

United hasn’t said whether or not Antony is still available.

Antony said he was the “victim of false accusations” in an Instagram post on Monday.

The denial came after Brazilian news outlets said they had seen WhatsApp messages between Antony and Cavallin in which the player is said to threaten his ex-girlfriend.

One picture also shows Cavallin with what looks like a cut on his head.

The former Ajax player said that he and Cavallin had a “tumultuous” relationship in which they both used bad language.

However he denied assaulting her, adding: “I never practiced physical aggression.”

United is under pressure to take action because the case comes right after the club cut ties with Mason Greenwood.

Charges of attempted rape and assault were brought against the 21-year-old striker, but in February of this year, prosecutors said that the case had been dropped because key witnesses had backed out and new evidence had come to light.

People were upset when they heard that United was going to keep the player after a six-month internal investigation, so the club said in August that he would rebuild his career somewhere else.

Greenwood has since moved to Spain to play for Getafe on loan.

Antony moved to United from Ajax a little over a year ago in an £85 million ($107 million) deal.

He has played 48 times for the Red Devils and scored eight goals. This year, he was on the team that won the English League Cup.