Antony’s Painful Manchester United Exit and Fresh Start at Real Betis

When Antony stood before the cameras in Seville, tears ran freely. His unveiling at Real Betis was more than a formality; it was a release. After months of isolation and frustration at Manchester United, the Brazilian winger could finally speak of his torment and, perhaps, begin again.

Manchester United once invested £82 million in Antony, prising him from Ajax with the promise of flair and decisive wing play. Instead, his time at Old Trafford unravelled. Frozen out of Ruben Amorim’s plans and made to train separately from his teammates, he endured what he later described as a period of deep personal difficulty.

“Only my family knows how difficult it was to be there. Training separately… but I knew this incredible moment was coming,” he admitted. “Of course, I was afraid it wouldn’t happen in the end, but I waited because I had so much faith.”

His words carried the weight of a player who no longer felt wanted, nor truly seen, at a club where expectation often turns to suffocating scrutiny.

The winger’s loan spell at Betis last season had rekindled his confidence, yet a permanent return appeared in jeopardy until the final hours of deadline day. Eventually, the Spanish side secured him for £21.65 million, a stark contrast to the fee Manchester United once paid.

“Seville is more beautiful than Manchester. I’m finally here,” Antony remarked with a smile, though the comment doubled as a pointed swipe at his former home.

“I spent more than 40 days in a hotel, it was very hard, but everyone knew I wanted to return to Betis. Now with more time, we have so many things to do and achieve.”

For Antony, there was never another option. “I always made it very clear that my only option was Betis,” he said. “It’s a club I have a lot of affection for. It was always my first choice, and that’s why I waited until the last day.”

Betis president Ángel Haro confirmed negotiations were fraught: “Manchester United didn’t want a loan, but rather to sell the player. There was a moment when they broke down. But footballers tend to play wherever they want, and Antony wanted to play for Betis. That has helped a lot.”

The move, shaped by determination as much as footballing politics, now offers Antony the platform Manchester United could not. After the international break, he is set for a second Betis debut, carrying with him both scars of Manchester and the hope of renewal in Seville.