How Antony became a 'hero in Betis' after Man Utd sadness

Such has been Antony's effect connected indebtedness astatine Real Betis from Manchester United, nan Spanish club's players are seemingly consenting to spell to immoderate lengths to support nan Brazilian winger.

"Antonio of Triana," started nan sinister-sounding connection connected nan Instagram page belonging to Betis skipper Isco. "We're going to kidnap you: this is your first warning."

It was not agelong earlier nan 2nd followed arsenic erstwhile Betis winger Joaquin sewage successful connected nan joke by adding: "If I person to supply nan car to kidnap him, I will. However it happens, he has to stay."

It is nary wonderment Betis want to support clasp of nan 25-year-old.

Since his loan move from Old Trafford astatine nan extremity of January, nan Brazil world has helped toggle shape nan club's season.

They moved from ninth successful La Liga to sixth and a spot successful nan Europa League, pinch Antony besides instrumental successful taking them to their first European last - erstwhile they look Chelsea successful nan Conference League connected Wednesday successful Wroclaw, Poland.

In 25 matches since he joined, Betis person won 13 and drawn eight, losing only four. Their 51 goals successful that clip is astatine a complaint of amended than 2 a crippled and Antony has straight contributed to 14 of them, pinch 9 goals and 5 assists, including scoring successful some legs of nan melodramatic semi-final triumph complete Fiorentina.

Betis won 4-3 connected aggregate aft other clip arsenic Antony, who had grabbed nan victor successful a 2-1 first-leg location win, netted a awesome free-kick successful Florence and past created nan decisive extremity for Abde Ezzalzouli to time off Betis connected nan brink of nine history and a first European trophy.

"Antony is already a leader successful Betis," said Spanish shot master and BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague. "They emotion a subordinate that's a spot different, aliases 1 that has struggled and finds happiness successful Seville.

"Seville is simply a spot for bull fighters. They for illustration nan bull combatant that goes disconnected book and does things his ain measurement - and Antony is that benignant of subordinate truthful they perfectly emotion him. He has been effective and taken nan squad to different level.

"Betis person fixed nan man emotion and confidence, played him successful nan correct position and played him each nan time. He has been perfectly superb and he has been emotional.

"We saw a very acold feline astatine United, since he has gone to Betis and things person been working, we've seen him cry, we've spot him laughter and Betis fans emotion that."

Antony was one of nan first signings made by Erik 10 Hag erstwhile he became nan United head successful 2022, aft nan brace had won successive Dutch Eredivisie titles together astatine Ajax.

The interest of £81.3m (95m euros, rising to a imaginable 100m euros), meant Antony became nan 2nd astir costly subordinate successful United history - down Paul Pogba.

It began well. Antony played 44 games successful 2022-23, scoring 8 goals pinch 3 assists, and started successful United's Carabao Cup last triumph complete Newcastle.

In nan pursuing run 17 of his 38 appearances travel arsenic a substitute, and he was an unused sub successful nan FA Cup last triumph complete Manchester City. That downturn continued successful 2024-25, pinch him not starting a Premier League lucifer earlier his move to Spain.

"I couldn't return it immoderate more," said Antony earlier this week successful an affectional question and reply pinch TNT Sports Brazil.

"I wasn't happy, I didn't consciousness that desire to play football, and I needed to find myself and beryllium happy again. Playing shot was ever thing I loved - I went done difficult times erstwhile I nary longer felt that pleasure."

Then United head Ten Hag said successful January past twelvemonth that Antony's shape had been impacted by off-field issues.

The Brazilian was nan subject of a constabulary investigation aft allegations of home maltreatment were made against him by 3 women. He denied nan allegations, said to Greater Manchester Police voluntarily and was not arrested aliases charged successful either Brazil aliases nan UK.

Antony said his unhappiness affected his family life, describing nan play arsenic "very difficult days for me".

He added: "I was astatine home, not having nan spot to moreover play pinch my son, going days without eating, staying locked successful my room.

"It was very complicated, but convey God, pinch nan thief of my family and chiefly pinch nan thief of God, I managed to get up and coming I americium very happy here."

However, Balague does not expect Betis to beryllium capable to support Antony because of nan transportation interest United would demand.

"Manchester United won't waste for little than 50m euros and Betis will beryllium successful Europe, but I deliberation Antony belongs astatine Champions League level," Balague told BBC Sport.

"They are going into nan last pinch nan thought of having thing to lose. They're successful their first final, person a batch of quality, compete really well, conflict for everything, travel nan ideas of [coach Manuel] Pellegrini and their champion players are reaching their champion level.

"They are a formidable team, but Chelsea are favourites. Betis should bask nan past minutes pinch Antony because he astir apt won't stay."

Antony's indebtedness move has worked successful 1 sense, he has impressed and now clubs will beryllium overmuch much apt to beryllium keen connected signing him - Real Betis would intelligibly for illustration to person him back.

However, his wages stay precocious for a nine for illustration Betis, truthful whether he goes backmost location depends connected a woody being done - either pinch nan Brazilian complete a costs reduction, aliases United to connection immoderate benignant of subsidy.

The existent problem is nan value tag if it comes to a imperishable sale.

It is reasonably evident nan nine has nary chance of getting nan £81.3m they paid for him back. He still has 2 years near connected his first five-year contract, truthful for amortisation purposes, United still request to waste him for £32.52m - different they make a loss.

Quite speech from his mediocre shape since joining from Ajax, arsenic a wide player, Antony doesn't fresh Ruben Amorim's system. We cognize location are going to beryllium immense changes astatine Old Trafford this season, it is intolerable to deliberation Antony will still beryllium astatine nan nine aft nan transportation model closes connected 1 September.

As pinch galore United players this summer, nan cardinal is really quickly a woody tin beryllium done - and really overmuch it will cost.