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Mnachester United outcast rules out return to homeland amidst Old Trafford struggles

Originally posted on We All Follow United
By Rohit Sarkar | Last updated Jul 27, 2025 8:54 PM ET

Antony not keen to return to Brazil despite Manchester United transfer decision

The 2024/25 season has been a dream-breaker for Manchester United. There was a time when we thought the picture would change with the arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim, but nothing like that happened. Finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final was a matter of shame for us. Now, in the 2025/26 season, we will not play in any European competition, and this is a harsh reality that every Red Devils fan has had to accept.

The condition of the club have been continuously bad for the last few seasons. The start looked strong during Erik ten Hag’s era, but stability never came. The defence was weak, the midfield was tired, and the attack was completely flat. After Ruben Amorim’s arrival, it was expected that he would bring the same energy here as he did at Sporting Lisbon, but coming in the middle of the season, he could only bandage the wounds, not treat them. Still, the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo this summer have provided some relief, as has the addition of a young face like Diogo Leon.

Antony’s difficult situation, and difficulties are mounting

United’s biggest focus this transfer window has been getting rid of players who are no longer in Amorim’s plans, and Antony is one of them. The Brazilian winger played on loan at Real Betis last season and got back to form, but Betis have not made a decisive move to sign him yet. Journalist Matheus Medeiros reports that Botafogo and São Paulo had shown interest in signing Antony, but the player himself refused to return to Brazil.

The 25-year-old winger has made it clear that he wants to play in Europe for now. He thanked both clubs, but the answer was a ‘no’. Antony’s thinking shows that he still considers himself fit for Europe, even if the market for him is very limited. We have reported earlier that the club are struggling to offload the winger.

An expensive mistake and a stuck story

Antony’s stubbornness is now becoming a headache for United. He was bought from Ajax for around £85m in 2022, but since then, he has never looked worth that amount. Continuously declining form, limited impact and now this attitude have further complicated the situation of the club. His loan spell at Real Betis was good, but it is not enough to attract high-profile bids.

The problem is that his high salary and contract until 2027 force any club to back down. United do not want to see him in Amorim’s team, but Antony himself does not want to leave Europe. This stagnation has put the club in a trap – if the transfer does not happen, either send him on loan again or drag him back to the team. Neither option is free from danger.

United now have to find a way to sell Antony as soon as possible, even if it means bearing a loss. Because if this player stays with the team for another season, there will be neither financial balance nor squad balance. For Antony, this is stubbornness; for the club, this is a hassle, and for us fans… this is another regret.

This article first appeared on We All Follow United and was syndicated with permission.

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