La Liga team, Real Betis, is reportedly at the forefront of clubs looking to sign Manchester United's Brazilian winger, Antony. The player has been underperforming since his high-profile move to Old Trafford and could be set for a loan spell in Spain.
Antony joined Manchester United in August 2022 for a whopping £81.3m, making him the second most expensive player in the club's history. However, his performance has not lived up to expectations. He started strong with three goals in his first three Premier League games but has since struggled to maintain that form.
The 24-year-old forward has scored only one Premier League goal since April 2023 and his appearances on the pitch have significantly reduced over time - from 23 league starts during his debut season down to just 15 last season and none so far this campaign. In total, Antony has featured in just 13 out of United's 32 games across all competitions this season. His recent performance against Southampton further highlighted his struggles when he failed to convert an open-goal opportunity off an Alejandro Garnacho cross.
Interest from other clubs
Despite these challenges, several clubs have shown interest in acquiring Antony’s services on loan. However, it is understood that any deal would require Manchester United subsidising part of his wages due to their substantial size.
Real Betis appears most likely to secure Antony’s signature as talks between both parties are said to be advanced compared with other interested clubs. Currently ranked eleventh in La Liga and facing a Conference League play-off against Belgian side Gent next month, securing a player like Antony could provide much-needed reinforcement for Real Betis' squad. However, while there is optimism about finalizing a deal soon nothing concrete has been agreed upon yet between both parties involved.
Antony's potential move to Real Betis could be a win-win situation for all parties involved. The player would get more game time and an opportunity to regain his form, Manchester United could potentially see an increase in the player's market value with improved performances, and Real Betis would acquire a talented forward who could help them climb up the La Liga table. However, until any deal is finalized, Antony remains a Manchester United player.
