Man United ‘elephant in the room’ emerges as Antony worshipped at Real Betis
Manchester United face the prospect of Antony returning to the club this summer with Real Betis unlikely to afford a permanent signing of the winger.
Most who have watched Antony since his loan move to Real Betis in January perhaps would not believe he is the same player that struggled in Manchester.
In just a couple of months, the Brazilian has captured the hearts of the fans in southern Spain, having contributed to two goals and two assists in his first eight games
However, the difference in perception of Antony’s attitude during his time at Man United compared to now is seen as the catalyst behind his form.
The 25-year-old appears to have renewed confidence in Seville and will be looking for a long-term home, as a return under Ruben Amorim looks unlikely.
Real Betis want Antony to return on loan next season
According to the Daily Mail [1 April], Real Betis’ preference would be for Antony to return to the club next season on another loan, which is the “elephant in the room” for United when it comes to offloading their big-money mistake.
Despite being on course or European football next season, with Champions League qualification not completely out of the question, the Spanish side are unlikely to have the budget to pay the fee required to sign Antony on a permanent basis.
This leaves Man United in a difficult position, as the club would like to recoup some of the £86million fee they paid Ajax for Antony in August 2022 [Sky Sports].
It remains unclear whether Man United would consider another loan deal with the view of restoring some of Antony’s market value before selling on a permanent transfer further down the line.
Staying at Real Betis to benefit Antony the most
Football Insider verdict
For Antony the most important thing at this moment in his career is to be playing regular minutes and he looks to have that at Real Betis.
The style of football in Spain looks to be benefitting Antony, as he is afforded more time and space along with the freedom to express himself under Manuel Pellegrini.
In Betis’ 3-2 victory over Leganés earlier in March, Antony led the team with four successful dribbles, six key passes, and four accurate crosses.
It’s this type of impact which has seen him become a fan favourite and the difference in fan perception could be seen as an underrated aspect behind his upturn in form.
| Antony stats at Man United 24/25 | Antony stats at Real Betis 24/25 |
| Games – 8 | Games – 8 |
| Goals – 0 | Goals – 2 |
| Assists – 0 | Assists – 2 |
However, with Man United’s recent financial troubles and plans to build a new stadium, it remains to be seen whether they would accept another loan deal for next season.
It would mean Antony potentially returning to the club before trying to find potential suitors in a permanent deal, which could prove easier if he is to keep up this type of form between now and the end of the season.