Real Betis will attempt to extend Antony’s loan spell in La Liga for another season if Manchester United cannot sell him this summer.
The Brazil international has been a revelation in Spain, with his stunning winner against Espanyol at the weekend indicative of the impact he has made.
It was Antony’s second winning goal of the week, and his seventh goal in 20 games since he moved to Seville following a miserable spell at Old Trafford. He has also added four assists to help propel Betis into a spot where Europa League qualification is a certainty and a place in the Champions League a possibility.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side also hold a 2-1 advantage in the Conference League semi-finals with the second leg against Fiorentina to come on Thursday.
United will look to sell first
Antony’s resurgence means United may yet get some return on the £86million they paid Ajax for his services in 2022.
The Premier League strugglers would ideally like to sell him this summer while his stock is high while Betis hope for a different outcome.
It has been reported in Spain that Betis chiefs have discussed the possibility of signing the 25-year-old on a season-long loan deal for the 2025-26 campaign with their Old Trafford counterparts.
United are unlikely to accept immediately but if there are no satisfactory offers for the former Ajax man, they may well sanction another temporary move to Spain in a bid to offset some of the player’s wages.
Pellegrini hails Antony’s bravery
Pellegrini is certainly a fan. The former Manchester City boss said: “You don’t just pay €100m for a player by chance. He came here convinced that he had to mature – the last year at United might have given him some of that – and he has talent to spare.
“Producing two or three really important things per game shows the player he is more than doing strange things on the ball. He is focused on finishing moves well, being practical: good deliveries, looking for shots, helping the collective.
“Our style has suited him. I’m happy for him; it was a difficult time for him but he showed his bravery by coming here and took it as a personal challenge.”
