Antony: New Manchester United Signing Came From ‘Little Hell’ in Brazil to Playing at Old Trafford

• Manchester United's latest acquisition Antony has revealed how his tough upbringing helped him cope with pressure
• Antony was brought up in Brazil in an estate which was crawling with drug dealers before he secured a move to Ajax
• He is now at Old Trafford looking to make a mark after becoming the most expensive player ever from the Dutch top-flight league

Manchester United's relatively new signing, Antony came from literally nothing to become one of the most exciting prospects in world football.

The wunderkind lit up the Dutch Eredivisie with his pace and skills before United decided to pay a record fee for a player in the division to secure his services.

He went on to have a fairytale debut when he scored in his first start in a game against Arsenal at Old Trafford. The second game against Real Sociedad in the Europa League didn't go as planned, but for him, he is living the dream.

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Antony was born and bred in Osasco in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The place was nicknamed 'Little Hell' as Sports Bible reports. The future talent was unable to afford football boots.

He explained that the area where he lived together with his siblings was a haven for drug dealers.

Sometimes you would be watching a game on a Sunday and there would be that smell, a smell of bhang coming into the house.

There were moments, my brother, my sister and I would cry and hug each other thinking about our lives.

There were times in the middle of the night, we were bailing water out of our flooded house, but we'd still do it with a smile on our faces.

The now 22-year-old managed to join the youth side of Sao Paulo before Ajax came calling for him. He will be hoping to make his mark at the Theatre of Dreams after reuniting with his former head coach Erik ten Hag.

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Casemiro was forced to take care of his family at a young age

Sports Brief had earlier reported that it was safe to say that Casemiro's tough upbringing moulded him into the star he is today.

The midfielder was raised by a single mother in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His father abandoned them when he was just five years old.

Being the eldest child in a family of three children, Casemiro was forced to step up and take responsibility for the family at such a tender age.