Antony, the unwanted Manchester United forward, is “so happy” to have been offered a way out of Old Trafford, with Real Betis poised to secure his services on loan for the remainder of the season.
The Brazilian winger is on the brink of completing his mid-season move to Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who will contribute a portion of his wages, while Manchester United will cover the remainder.
Recently, Antony was seen arriving in Spain as he prepares to put pen to paper on his contract with Betis, and the former Ajax star seemed in good spirits as he posed for photos upon his arrival.
In an interview with journalist Fabrizio Romano, Antony expressed his excitement about the move, saying: “I’m so happy, I’m ready,” when asked about his upcoming switch to the La Liga club. It is understood that Betis will not have an option or obligation to make the transfer permanent.
As a result, Antony will return to Old Trafford once the season concludes, where he still has a contract that runs until 2027. However, it is expected that Manchester United will look to part ways with him for good before the 2025-26 campaign kicks off.
Having been a key player in Erik ten Hag’s Ajax team, Antony made a big-money £85m move to Manchester United, making an immediate impact by scoring in a 3-1 win over Arsenal in September 2022. However, that moment of brilliance has not been a sign of things to come for Antony, who has since contributed just 16 goals or assists in 95 appearances, many of which were as a substitute.
This season, the 24-year-old has started only three matches and appeared as a substitute on 11 occasions, scoring once against Barnsley in the EFL Cup. He has accumulated just 135 Premier League minutes so far in the 2024-25 season, with most of his contributions coming from the bench. His style of play, which often thrives on the wing, does not seem well-suited to Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation.
Antony had also filled in at wing-back during the early part of Amorim’s tenure, but it’s clear that this is not his ideal role, with Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad Diallo providing cover in those areas.
Antony is likely to be one of several high-profile departures from Manchester United in the near future, especially after the club issued an open letter to fans acknowledging the risk of breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.
To avoid potential penalties, United may look to offload homegrown talents such as Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, with the former being linked with a surprise move to Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a bold move for Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, though it’s uncertain whether this would be part of a larger deal or a separate transaction.
As for Rashford, his future appears more uncertain due to his hefty £315,000-a-week wages. Reports suggest he now has just one option for a January loan move.
Another situation to watch closely is that of Casemiro, with Amorim recently making a telling comment about the Brazilian’s future at Old Trafford, suggesting the former Real Madrid star may struggle for more playing time.
