Man Utd must drop ‘abuser’ Antony just like Mason Greenwood, says star’s ex Gabriela Cavallin
THE woman at the centre of the new Manchester United abuse allegations says accused star Antony should be axed.
Model Gabriela Cavallin, the ex-girlfriend of the £85million winger, urged Old Trafford bosses to ban him from playing while police investigate claims he assaulted her.
Her revelations come after Brazilian Antony, 23, gave a tearful TV interview in his home country on Friday denying the claims and vowing to clear his name.
Gabriela told The Sun on Sunday: “Antony needs to be taken off the pitch. It’s disappointing he’s still allowed to play while there’s an investigation.
“I am absolutely destroyed by the whole process. How can life go on as normal for him? They can’t just know what they know now and not do anything. He needs to be removed.”
Gabriela, 22, demanded to know why United bosses waited three months to respond to the abuse allegations.
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The club is already reeling from criticism over the way it handled abuse allegations against Mason Greenwood.
It has been reported in Brazil that Gabriela has told police that £150,000-a-week Antony assaulted her four times.
She previously alleged she was first attacked in June 2022 while pregnant and on holiday in Brazil.
And she claimed in January Antony headbutted and punched her in a Manchester hotel, damaging a breast implant.
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And she claimed he threw a glass at her in May, injuring her finger.
Antony, who has made 31 appearances for United since the alleged incidents, has denied all wrongdoing.
For legal reasons, Gabriela has been careful not to speak about the allegations themselves in our interview as there is a police investigation.
She first filed a complaint in Brazil in June.
Last Monday — after the allegations were reported by Brazilian media — Antony was dropped from the national squad.
Two days later United issued a statement insisting they were taking the matter seriously but would not act during the police inquiry.
In tears, Gabriela told us: “Why did it take United three months?
“It’s just not OK. I prefer not to believe such a huge club, with such serious and professional people, would cover up a situation like this.”
Two more women have made similar claims against the winger.
Law student Rayssa de Freitas said she needed hospital treatment following an incident in May last year after she was allegedly attacked by Antony and a woman in his Land Rover after they left a Sao Paulo nightclub.
Ingrid Lana, a 33-year-old banker, has alleged in an interview in Brazil that Antony was sexually aggressive towards her while on a business trip to England in October.
Gabriela vowed to keep fighting for her claims to be taken seriously.
She said: “I will do everything in my power.
“I will not give up. People need to be held accountable.
“It doesn’t matter what profession or how famous someone might be.
"If they took action against his teammate, I don’t see why Antony should be treated differently.”
United suspended striker Greenwood, 21, when he was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault last year.
All charges against him were later dropped and he has been loaned to Spanish club Getafe.
Antony insisted in his Brazilian TV interview: “I know the truth and it will come out.”
He also spoke out against domestic violence and insisted he would never harm a woman.
He said: “I’m 100 per cent sure I’ve never touched a woman, and I’ll come up with the evidence. People will see the truth.
“I have never assaulted and I will never assault.
“I’m sure I’ve never committed physical violence.”
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United said yesterday: “Manchester United acknowledges the allegations made against Antony and notes that the police are conducting enquiries.
“Pending further information, the club will be making no further comments.”
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.