Antony tells Real Betis he wants to extend stay beyond loan

Man Utd winger finding form in Spain after £85m Old Trafford nightmare

Manchester United’s £85million winger Antony has already informed Real Betis he wishes to extend his stay in Spain beyond the current loan arrangement.

The Brazilian, who has enjoyed a remarkable revival since joining the La Liga side in January, made his intentions clear to Betis CEO Ramon Alarcon.

“The other day Antony told me that he wanted to stay another year,” Alarcon revealed to Canal Sur’s El Pelotazo programme.

“The player is very comfortable here and was surprised by the facilities we gave him to settle in the city as soon as he arrived.”

Antony has made an electric start to life in Seville, registering three goals and two assists in just seven appearances. His contributions have helped drive Betis toward European qualification, with their cause strengthened by a notable 2-1 victory over Real Madrid last weekend.

The 25-year-old’s transformation has been stark after enduring a torrid time at Old Trafford, where he managed just 12 goals and five assists in 96 appearances following his blockbuster move from Ajax in 2022.

Frozen out under both Erik ten Hag and current United boss Ruben Amorim this season, Antony failed to make a single Premier League start before his January departure.

Amorim has suggested the winger’s struggles in England were primarily physical. “Antony is so much better now in Spain,” the Portuguese said. “It’s [because of] a lot of factors but I guarantee you it’s physicality.”

This assessment has been disputed by the player’s agent, Junior Pedroso, who told Marca: “To attribute Antony’s lack of success at Manchester United solely to the question of physicality is a very superficial argument and does not reflect reality. The truth is that Antony has not had enough prominence or the confidence necessary to play his best football.”

While the loan agreement does not include an option to buy, reports suggest Manchester United’s hierarchy are open to a permanent sale this summer. INEOS, who now control United’s football operations, would reportedly accept around £41million for the winger – representing a substantial 50 per cent loss on their initial investment.

Juventus have also been linked with a move for Antony, while two unnamed Saudi Pro League clubs are reportedly monitoring his situation.

The winger’s resurgence in Spain has put him back in contention for the Brazil national team, having not represented his country since March 2023. With the World Cup approaching next year, regular first-team football will be crucial to his international ambitions.

Manchester United are expected to oversee a significant squad overhaul this summer, with Antony among several high-profile players who could depart as the club looks to raise funds for Amorim’s rebuild.