Antony has struggled to find consistency in the United jersey and was loaned to Real Betis till the end of the season.
Back in 2022, Manchester United put a big bet on Antony and paid £86 million to bring him in from Ajax. It was a huge fee, making him their second-most-expensive player ever. The Brazilian winger, only 22 at the time, came in with a lot of hype, especially since he was reuniting with Erik ten Hag, the coach who helped shape his success in the Dutch league. Supporters were excited and were expecting his quality, pace, and eye for goal to breathe life into United’s front line. The club clearly saw him as someone who could shine in the Premier League and maybe even help push for silverware.
But things didn’t quite work out as United had hoped. Despite getting plenty of chances—96 appearances in total—he only scored 12 goals. His form dipped, confidence waned, and before long, he was no longer a regular starter. By 2025, with Ruben Amorim now in charge, Antony was pushed to the fringes. In January, he was sent on loan to Real Betis, with the Spanish side picking up most of his wages—about 84%. The loan lasts until the end of the season and doesn’t include an option to buy, but it is still a chance for him to reset.
Real Betis’ CEO has sent a warning to Manchester United regarding Antony’s future
Antony looks like a different player since moving to Real Betis on loan. Things never quite clicked for him at Manchester United, but in La Liga, he has found his rhythm again. In just 20 appearances, he has already racked up seven goals and five assists. More than the numbers, though, it is the way he’s playing. He is full of confidence, quality, and sharp decision-making. One of his highlights so far has been a last-gasp winner in the 91st minute against Espanyol. Under Manuel Pellegrini, he has literally become a fan favourite. Betis fans have taken to him quickly, often chanting his name.
Antony’s time in England never really took off. He could not deliver consistently, and couldn’t match the Premier League’s intensity, and just did not seem to settle. By January 2025, a loan move to Real Betis felt inevitable, especially with new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim set on reshaping the squad. It now looks unlikely that Antony will return to Old Trafford. United are reportedly eager to move him on this summer. They are hoping to claw back around £40 million to help fund incoming transfers.
Over in Spain, Betis CEO Ramon Alarcón shared some insight into how the loan came together. He mentioned that Betis had given United their word, in writing, even—that Antony would play regularly to help become confident and also increase his financial value. There was even a penalty clause tied to his game time. According to Alarcón, Antony feels settled and happy in Seville, and United gets weekly updates on his progress. Still, he made it clear that while Betis would love to keep Antony, they are also prepared to look elsewhere if things don’t work out, especially if another club comes in with a strong offer. In the end, their main goal is to maintain harmony in the squad.
“The good thing is that at Christmas we made a promise to Manchester [United]. If he comes to Betis, it’s a place where he’ll regain his value, which is what they wanted, because it’s through his play, and because it’s a place that adapts very well to the type of game Antony had. That promise we made to Manchester, which we even put in writing, because we have penalties if the player doesn’t play, but we told them, he’s going to play with us. It’s been kept.
Manchester now knows, and the player knows, that he’s happy here and that he’s found his place here. Obviously, if someone comes with a very high offer, he’s a great player for Manchester, and they have the final say. But we’ve always worked with respect. Every week, Manu Fajardo, who has done a spectacular job, has sent them the report from the player’s week of training, the tactical and physical report from the player’s match, and they’ve seen that we’ve taken very good care of their asset.
We also have to value the player’s commitment, as he has 20 days left with the team and is like one of the team members. We’ll see when summer arrives if there’s an option to bring him in for another year.”
If Manchester United can’t find a buyer willing to meet the £40 million mark for Antony this summer, the smart move would be to work out another loan deal with Real Betis—this time with a guaranteed purchase clause for 2026. That way, Antony keeps playing regularly in La Liga, where he is clearly thriving, and his value has a chance to climb. Betis continues to enjoy his creativity on the pitch, and United, in the meantime, stays focused on their rebuild under Ruben Amorim. Holding off on a permanent sale might actually help them get a better return down the line.
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