“If you look at the players we wanted to buy this summer but couldn’t buy, it’s because the club has bought Antony, Casemiro, Onana, Hojlund and Sancho,” Sir Jim Ratcliffe said earlier this month on The Overlap. For the former player, this was another stab in the side, this time from the United boss. Next week, a meeting has been set up to resolve the situation that until January had no winners.
You know Antony’s story at Manchester United. The most expensive flop investment of all time, even Erik ten Hag who had pushed for the signing of the Ajax player did not understand how to use the Brazilian in the world’s toughest league. Then came the loan to Real Betis, within a few weeks coach Manuel Pellegrini and Antony turned everything around. Next week, an important agreement shines in the player’s book, then there is a meeting about the future.
Ruben Amorim stated last month that he was delighted with Antony’s success in La Liga as one of the Spanish league’s best attacking players, but threw in a jab that “his physique is better suited outside the Premier League”.
Real Betis are nevertheless very happy with Antony after several games as Man of The Match and 4 goals, 4 assists in 11 games.
According to Spanish ABC, Betis have a meeting with Manchester United’s management next week, where the topic is an extension of Antony’s loan spell that expires at the end of the season. According to transfer journalist Romano, the La Liga club pays around 84 percent of Antony’s salary, so to convince United, the whole thing will probably have to be covered.
Manchester United have seen Antony’s market value increase with playing time in the Betis shirt, and can see it as a win-win situation to let Antony play up his market value further in La Liga for sale, while Betis takes the wage bill.
The Spanish media claim that the Betis management is ready to go to great lengths to keep Antony in the squad on loan, we guess the negotiations will also include an obligation to buy/option for a permanent transfer.
Manchester United will have to swallow a huge loss on the £81 million investment in 2022, but will not have to take any more expenses on Antony. This smells like a solution for all parties.
