Manchester United have a pivotal transfer window ahead.
INEOS have to be ruthless when it comes to sanctioning player exits this summer – or else risk keeping hold of deadwood players who are stealing a living.
Antony is one Manchester United star likely to be offloaded when the window opens due to the interest he’s receiving from his current club, Real Betis.
There is an off-chance Ruben Amorim would look to bring the winger back to Old Trafford and see if he can replicate such revived form in a red shirt. However, after two failed seasons in M16, it’s improbable United would give him another season to prove himself.
Since making the move to Spain in January, Antony has become something of a player reborn. He left United without making a single Premier League start whilst scoring only one goal – from the penalty spot, no less – in a 7-0 Carabao Cup win over Barnsley in the third round.
He made nine appearances under Amorim (two as a starter) before the boss signed off on his temporary departure, although no buy clause was included in the terms.
Real Betis kickstart attempts to sign Antony
Now 15 matches into his Betis tenure, Antony has notched four goals and four assists in all competitions.
The Seville-based outfit ended a seven-game unbeaten streak in La Liga when falling to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Villarreal over the weekend, but do have the chance to book their spot in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League if they can defend their 2-0 advantage in the second leg vs Jagiellonia Bialystok this Thursday.
They’re also sixth-placed in the league and therefore well in the mix to claim a European place come the end of the season, which will coincide with the Brazilian’s loan coming to an end.
Two weeks ago, Isco joked that Betis’ fans and players should consider crowdfunding to sign Antony permanently upon the culmination of 2024/2025, seemingly acknowledging the fact that any transfer fee United set is likely to be outside of the Betis’ price range.
That hasn’t stopped them from giving it ago, though. Journalist Urial Lugt claims the two sides are in ‘advanced negotiations’ to try and hash out a deal that sees Antony join Los Verderones long-term.
Presumably, the 25-year-old would also have to reduce his £200,000-a-week wages that he’s been earning since putting pen to paper on a five-year United deal in 2022.
