Manchester United flop still drawing interest from abroad

When Manchester United signed Antony from Ajax for a fee of $98.9 million, there was hope that he could develop into a world-class talent on the wing. 

Instead, Antony's time in Manchester has been a nightmare. In 62 Premier League games, Antony has mustered five goals and three assists — far from the return you would expect for a player who cost close to $100 million on the transfer market. 

Initially, the hope was that Erik Ten Hag's familiarity with Antony could help him settle into England and quickly get the best out of him. Instead, Ten Hag struggled to find the right role for Antony, leading to some forgettable performances. 

When Ruben Amorim took over, it quickly became apparent that Antony wasn't going to get much opportunity in the first team squad. Amorim prefers a 3-5-2 formation with two number tens behind the striker. That's why so many wingers are currently looking for exit routes out of Manchester.

Antony spent the second half of last season with Real Betis, playing for former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini. Antony instantly found top form, scoring five goals and two assists in 17 La Liga games. 

As such, he's been linked with a permanent move to Spain throughout the summer. Unfortunately, Real Betis, despite interest, will struggle to meet United's demands. Still, that hasn't stopped the club from hoping it gets lucky.

"I haven’t spoken to Antony," Pellegrini told Estadio Deportivo. "We all know he was very happy during the six-month period he was with us. We want him back, he certainly wants to come back, but it depends on what the transfer holder, which is Manchester United, wants to do with him."

United has stood firm in the transfer market this summer. The club is reportedly aiming to find a permanent sale for Antony, rather than another loan. However, with the end of summer transfer window closing in, United's stance may begin to soften. 

If the only choices are for Antony to stay on the bench or to leave on loan and have his salary subsidized, then there's only one correct answer. Antony enjoyed his time with Betis. If another loan can get him one step closer to a permanent exit, then it's a deal that works for everyone. 

Whether United's board will see things that way remains to be seen. But, with playing time looking nonexistent for the former Ajax winger, a loan move may be his only exit route out of Manchester...again.