In a significant development, Manchester United appear to have reached an agreement with Spanish outfit Real Betis to offload Brazilian winger Antony. The Brazilian, who joined United in 2022 for an eye-watering fee of approximately £80million, followed Erik ten Hag from Ajax in what was anticipated to be a masterstroke signing during the Dutch manager’s inaugural summer at Old Trafford.
Antony’s tenure at United started on a promising note, with the fleet-footed winger netting a goal on his debut during a 3-1 victory over Arsenal. However, that initial promise quickly faded, and his performance stagnated over subsequent seasons. Over the course of 96 appearances, Antony managed to contribute 12 goals and five assists whilst accumulating 14 yellow cards, ultimately failing to justify his hefty price tag. His tenure at the club has been labelled by many pundits as one of the most calamitous in recent memory.
Reflecting on United’s transfer history post-Sir Alex Ferguson, Antony’s name is often mentioned alongside other ill-fated signings such as Alexis Sanchez and Jadon Sancho, as well as Andy Kellett and Radamel Falcao.
The Red Devils have endured a trying few years, with several former players flourishing following their departure from the club. Notably, Scott McTominay thrived after joining Napoli last summer, aiding them in clinching the Serie A title and earning the accolade of the league’s Most Valuable Player.
After failing to win favour with new head coach Ruben Amorim, Antony was loaned to Real Betis last January. The winger impressed in Spain, helping Betis reach the Europa Conference League final, thereby re-elevating his market value and briefly reigniting hopes of a revival at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, upon his return to Manchester for pre-season, Antony learnt he wasn’t a part of Amorim’s plans for the 2025/26 campaign.
Confined to the “bomb squad” alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, Antony was left out of first-team training sessions and pre-season fixtures. Betis pursued the Brazilian’s permanent signature over the summer, and according to reports from Sky Sports, both clubs have now agreed on a deal, potentially paving the way for Antony to finalise personal terms with the Andalusian side.
Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth confirmed Manchester United have granted the winger permission to negotiate his contract terms with Betis. Meanwhile, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reiterated the news, but noted that a personal agreement between Antony and the Spanish club remains essential.
However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano casts doubts, suggesting negotiations are still ongoing. According to Romano, United are keen on a permanent deal with specific conditions, including a 50% sell-on clause. He notes that despite Betis’ endeavours, they are yet to receive the final go-ahead from United.
It remains to be seen whether the negotiations will come to fruition, but a resolution to Antony’s turbulent stint in Manchester seems imminent.
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