Manchester United flop Antony has made it clear that he is enjoying life at Real Betis and would be open to extending his stay beyond his current loan deal.
The Brazilian winger joined Betis in the January transfer window and has quickly found his form in Spain, scoring three goals in his first four appearances for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
Antony Thriving at Real Betis
Since making the switch from Manchester United, Antony has hit the ground running, delivering impressive performances so far in La Liga.
His fast start has led to speculation over a potential permanent move to Real Betis.
🚨 Antony has been included in La Liga’s Player of the Month candidates with Kylian Mbappé, Pedri, Ante Budimir and Oihan Sancet. pic.twitter.com/FzPr4jOgAt
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 19, 2025
The Spanish club have already expressed interest in keeping the 24-year-old beyond his loan period, while United will be looking to recover part of the £82 million they spent to sign him from Ajax in 2022.
As part of the loan agreement, Real Betis are covering at least 84% of Antony’s salary, which exceeds £100,000 per week.
Antony Opens Up About His Happiness in Spain
In a recent interview with Betis’ media channel, Antony shared his excitement about playing in Spain and how the change of environment has positively impacted his game and mindset.
“The most important thing is that I have found myself again,” Antony said. “I am happy to be enjoying myself every day. Things go well when we are well, happy, content. In four games, I scored three goals and gave an assist. I expected it, and I didn’t expect it.”
He emphasised how both physical and mental preparation have played a key role in his resurgence, saying, “I have worked mentally and physically to get to this moment. When I was in England, I continued working, and I was preparing for this moment.
“Now, I am very happy to be enjoying and living an incredible moment.”
Moving to Real Betis helped Antony regain his happiness 🥹💚
(via @RealBetis) pic.twitter.com/bOLhBmS6ds
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 19, 2025
A Fresh Start After Manchester United Struggles
Antony’s time at Manchester United has been inconsistent, having fallen down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim.
Reflecting on his tenure at Old Trafford, he acknowledged his gratitude but admitted that he needed a fresh start to rediscover his best form.
“I played very little in Manchester, but I’m grateful to them and also to the coach, who spoke to me. I wasn’t playing much, but I’ve been working hard. I needed to be happy with myself. The best version of being happy with myself is the most important thing.”
Will Antony Move to Real Betis Permanently?
With Real Betis keen on keeping Antony and the player himself expressing his happiness in Spain, a permanent transfer could be on the horizon.
He also highlighted the support he received from former Betis players, who reassured him about the passionate fanbase and positive environment at the club.
“I have a lot of friends who played here, and they left me very calm so that I could sign here. I was sure in my heart that coming here was the best decision for me.”
While Antony is still a Manchester United player, his recent comments indicate that he is enjoying his time at Betis and may prefer to stay in Spain, but whether a transfer can be agreed upon remains to be seen.
For now, Antony is focused on maintaining his strong form and helping Real Betis achieve their objectives this season.
If he continues performing at this level, Betis will likely push for a deal, and Manchester United could be willing to negotiate.
