What does Christmas mean to Antony?

The experiences of living, learning and surviving in such a tough place are indelibly marked and forensically retained by the 23-year-old, no matter where his career takes him.

There was his uncomfortable proximity to drug dealers and guns.

Or, as so vividly relayed to the Players’ Tribune website last year, the day where an eight-year-old Antony stumbled upon a dead body.

He was on his way to school.

Despite those unimaginable hardships, United’s no.21 still harbours happy memories of the infamous ‘little hell’ in which he spent his formative years.

As people around the world snap their laptops shut and clock off for the Christmas holidays, Antony will be preparing for a busy festive fixture schedule.

The English football calendar cares not for sentimentalities. It doesn’t stop for Christmas, as even Inferninho used to, in the midst of the blazing hot Brazilian summer.

“My family would work so hard to put a smile on the faces of me, my brother and sister,” Antony tells us, his face lighting up as he recalls Decembers of the past.

“Christmas was really special, everybody would get together for a family barbecue.

“Not just family, people from the community were always there with us too, wishing everyone Merry Christmas.”

As was the case throughout Inferninho, Antony’s family was not blessed with wealth.

They couldn’t afford to buy clothes, or shoes, but there were presents – and they were always football-related, from a very early age.

The most cherished?

That would be the gift that would eventually help him and his family to escape the favela, taking him to Sao Paulo, Ajax, United and the Brazil national team.

“My best present was always a ball,” he remembers. “Boots were difficult, more expensive and not within our means.

“I always shared with my friends, whenever I got a present we'd go down to the football pitch and I'd invite my friends to play and have fun.”

While those attending our Boxing Day meeting with Aston Villa at Old Trafford will be sweating out their turkey dinner under layer after layer of warm clothing, there won’t be a coat in sight in South America.

There’s no sitting in front of the fire with close family, watching Home Alone and nibbling on mince pies, either.

Take a trip to Brazil at this time of year and you’ll be celebrating on the beach, cocktail in hand, enjoying temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius.

Another significant difference is that Christmas Eve is the major date, as communities get together to exchange presents, eat plenty of food and, for Catholics, attend midnight mass.

“We celebrate on the 24th, everyone is really excited for Christmas, it's a day everyone looks forward to,” explains Antony.

“Christmas in Brazil is very well celebrated, with family and friends all together. Here, in England, it's a bit different with the football carrying on. It's the same in the Netherlands.

“In Brazil, it's more time for family and friends. It's pretty crazy as we wake up on the 24th really looking forward to that evening. We put on the new clothes we've bought and show them off to our friends and family.

“We spend the whole day in anticipation until about 7 or 8pm, to put on our new clothes and wait until midnight to wish everyone a happy Christmas.

“There’s always turkey as well, it's something we always have at Christmas as part of a massive banquet of food. As I said before, it's a very special day for Brazilians.”

That specialness tends to dissipate as you get older, although those with children will testify that the magic of Christmas can be rekindled.

Indeed, the birth of Antony’s son, Lorenzo, in 2019, has added further meaning to this important time of year.

“Definitely, my greatest gift is my son.

“Last Christmas here in England I dressed up as Father Christmas to surprise him, I've been talking with my wife about doing it again this year.

“It's really special to see his smile when you give him a present and surprise him, it's really important. Ever since Lorenzo was born, Christmases have been even better than before.”

Next year’s celebrations are set to be even better, too, as Antony and wife Rosilene are expecting a second child.

“A little girl this time,” he proudly beams. “It’s another special Christmas, with a little girl on the way.”

While Antony and co – he has two friends visiting and his father is also staying over – will, of course, be toasting the joyous news, work comes first and United have key league fixtures with West Ham, Villa and Nottingham Forest to negotiate.

The year 2023 saw the Brazilian win his first trophy in English football and experience playing in the Champions League with the Reds.

But there is work to do as we enter 2024 and aim to get back into contention in the Premier League, as Antony admits in his festive message to fans.

“I would like to wish you all a happy Christmas, God bless you and your families. Thank you as always for supporting and motivating us every game, regardless of the results.

“We owe a lot to you, always filling the stadium, thank you!

“Rest assured we are doing and will do everything to turn things around and put United back where they belong.

“Merry Christmas!”