“Agreement being drawn up” for United star’s move to La Liga club after “new contacts” today – report

January 18, 2025

Manchester United winger Antony is reportedly inching closer to joining Real Betis on loan for the remainder of the season.

Antony followed Erik ten Hag from Ajax to United for a whooping £86million fee and got off to a great start, scoring the winning goal against Arsenal at Old Trafford.

However, since then, he has struggled, failing to justify his massive price tag. He was once again a point of frustration for supporters on Thursday as he missed a clear-cut goalscoring opportunity that would have drawn the team level.

Fortunately for United, Amad Diallo was on hand to bail them out as he produced a sensational late hat-trick to secure the comeback win.

Earlier this week, Sky Sports revealed that United were in ongoing talks with several clubs, including Betis, over a loan switch for Antony.

A subsequent report covered by The Peoples Person claimed that Betis tabled an improved bid to get a deal for the Brazilian over the line.

Now, journalist Matthew Gonzalez of ABC de Sevilla states that there were fresh talks today between United and Betis and an agreement is not too far away.

Gonzalez wrote on X, “The Antony-Betis deal continues to move forward. There have been new contacts between the clubs today and an agreement is being drawn up for the loan until the end of the season.”

“There is competition from other clubs but the Betis are seen to be well-positioned to reach a definitive end.”

Lo de Antony y el Betis sigue avanzando. Hoy ha habido nuevos contactos entre los clubes y se perfila el acuerdo para la cesión hasta el final de temporada. Hay competencia de otros clubes pero los verdiblancos se ven bien posicionados para alcanzar el pacto definitivo…

— Mateo González (@Matglez) January 18, 2025

According to Gonzalez, Betis are confident they can help Antony rediscover his best form, enabling him to become a key player under Manuel Pellegrini.

It’s understood that the idea is for both clubs to share the burden of paying Antony’s wages. United are also adamant that they need a “guarantee” that Antony will play regularly at Estadio Benito Villamarín.

So far this term, Antony has only played 401 minutes for United, with most of his game time coming in the Carabao Cup – a competition United are no longer in.

The 24-year-old has yet to start a Premier League match under Ruben Amorim.

Feature image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Derick Kinoti

Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

Man Utd receive two ‘formal offers’ for Ten Hag flop as Ruben Amorim ‘approves’ exit

January 18, 2025

£80million flop Antony is ‘getting closer’ to leaving Manchester United for Spanish club Real Betis, according to reports in Spain.

Man Utd signed Antony from Ajax for £80m in August 2022, weeks after he could have been signed for half the price.

The Brazilian winger scored on his debut against Arsenal and that has been the highlight of his Red Devils career.

In total, he has only scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 95 appearances for the Premier League giants.

He will go down as one of the worst signings in Premier League history and could be on the move in the January transfer window.

There have been rumours of a move to Saudi Arabia or Turkey but La Liga outfit Real Betis seem the most interested club.

ABC Sevilla reported in late December that Betis are ‘monitoring the situation’ of the 24-year-old but are unlikely to be able to cover his salary.

MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365
👉 Every Premier League club’s worst player in 24/25: Walker, Hojlund, Nkunku, Jorginho…
👉 Man Utd dealt huge transfer blow as ‘main’ target ‘closes door’ amid ‘most likely’ outcome reveal
👉 Curling toes at ’embarrassing’ Rio Ferdinand and rolling eyes at ‘unwatchable’ Man Utd – the football week on TV

The same outlet (via Sport Witness) have now reported that talks are ‘intensifying’ as Betis accelerate their interest in Antony.

It is emphasised that the Spanish club will need Man Utd to pay the majority of the player’s salary if they are to take him on loan for the rest of the season.

Betis are clearly very keen to get Antony as they have ‘intensified negotiations with Manchester United in the last few hours’.

There have been two ‘formal offers’ from the Spaniards and as they ask the Red Devils to pay a large chunk of his wages, the Premier League club want assurances that Antony will play consistently during the loan spell, so his transfer value rises.

Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly confident he can get the best out of Antony, whose last goal in the Premier League came in a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley last April.

Man Utd need to sell before they can buy this month and are reportedly in talks to send Alejandro Garnacho to Napoli.

Another player likely to leave is left-back Tyrell Malacia. A report in the Netherlands has claimed he has an ‘agreement’ to leave on loan.

It is not revealed what club Malacia will join this month but ‘Ruben Amorim has given approval for the loan’.

READ NOW: Liverpool vindicate baffling £70m transfer decision but Van Nistelrooy sack looks inevitable – 3pm Blackout

17 clearances, 5 aerial duels won: United youngster puts in towering display on loan

January 18, 2025

Manchester United’s Rhys Bennett put in an outstanding performance as Fleetwood Town won 2-0 away to Salford City today.

He was given a score of 7.4 on Sofascore as he helped his side keep a vital clean sheet.

Bennett made an incredible 17 clearances in a towering display, showing his defensive prowess.

He contested nine aerial battles, winning five and won two out of three ground duels.

Sonny Aljofree was also in action for Accrington Stanley but it was a much more disappointing afternoon for him as his side fell to a 0-3 loss at home to Notts County.

The United youngster made 12 clearances from the centre of defence and a total of four tackles.

He won six aerial duels and four out of six contests on the deck.

Aljofree was heavily involved in the build-up, having 75 touches of the ball.

Joe Hugill also made his debut for his new side Carlisle United but could not get on the score sheet despite his best efforts.

The attacker played the full 90 minutes, having two shots on target and had one effort blocked by the Bradford defence.

The 21 year old will be disappointed with the 0-1 loss but will be glad of the 90 minutes and will hope he will get significantly more game time than he had at Wigan Athletic in the first part of the season.

Ethan Ennis made his league debut for Doncaster Rovers in their 1-0 away win at Gillingham. He played 15 minutes off the bench but will be disappointed that he only managed to make two passes and have ten touches of the ball.

Ethan Williams also made his debut for Cheltenham Town last night, as he came off the bench for the final 27 minutes of action in their 0-2 defeat to Harrogate Town.

Finally, James Nolan played the entire 90 minutes at left back as Inverness Caledonian Thistle impressively won 3-0 away to Annan Athletic in Scotland.

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Latest Top Stories…

Alex Browne

Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.

United winger scores brace including sensational free kick goal to earn u21s three wins in three

January 18, 2025

Manchester United u21s hosted Aston Villa at Carrington in Premier League 2 action on Saturday morning.

Following the cancellation of last week’s encounter with Leeds United, the match was the first of 2025 for Travis Binnion’s side.

Unfortunately for the keen followers of United’s u21s, the match was played behind closed doors at Carrington with no spectators allowed and wasn’t broadcast due to Premier League restrictions.

In what was a tightly contested match, the first chance of the game fell to Ethan Wheatley who was denied by a good save from Lander Emery.

George Hemmings came close for the Villans when he robbed possession high up the pitch but couldn’t direct his shot on target to trouble Elyh Harrison in the United goal.

United took the lead in the 24th minute through Sam Mather who curled a superb free kick towards the top left corner which hit off the post before going in.

The score line held until the half time break despite some further tests from Aston Villa.

Just seven minutes after the restart, Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba broke in behind before firing across goal for 16 year old Bradley Burrowes to slide in at the back post.

The young reds responded though when Wheatley was brought down by the outrushing Emery to earn a penalty which was duly dispatched by Mather straight down the middle of the goal for his second of the match.

Villa threatened until the final whistle to equalise but United’s backline held firm to secure the three points and make it three wins in a row in the league.

United now turn their attention to Tuesday night when they will host FC Nordsjælland u21s in the Premier League International Cup for their final group stage match.

United: Harrison; Ogunneye, Fredricson, Kukonki (Jackson 79), Murray; Gore (c), Kone (McAllister 79); Sharpe, Moorhouse (Missin 66), Mather (Curley 66); Wheatley

Unused subs: Wooster

Colm Murphy

A football obsessed Canadian who moved to England to enjoy the beautiful game. Colm has been keen follower of Manchester United’s famed academy since seeing a fresh faced Adnan Januzaj for the club’s u18s and has been writing about football with a focus on youth development for over 10 years.

Serie A giants will “not waste any more time” trying to sign United superstar, set to raid Man City instead – report

January 18, 2025

Manchester United have been trying to offload Marcus Rashford ever since the Mancunian revealed in an interview that he is ready for a new adventure.

Since that infamous interview, Ruben Amorim has not afforded a single minute of action to him with INEOS backing the head coach and open to moving him on as they seek pure profit to steer clear of PSR concerns.

However, United’s asking price coupled with the Englishman’s humongous wages have meant no permanent offers have arrived as of yet.

A few days ago, it seemed like AC Milan were in pole position to land the 27-year-old with a meeting scheduled between the club and the player’s agent.

AC Milan losing Rashford race

However, as relayed by The Peoples Person, Rashford’s heart is set on a move to Barcelona with Hansi Flick a big admirer of the England international’s talents.

And with an answer from the United No 10’s camp not forthcoming, the Serie A giants have seemingly given up on the Carrington graduate and are eyeing Manchester City’s Kyle Walker on loan instead.

As per Serie A regulations, Italian clubs can only sign one British player per year and the Rossoneri are not willing to waste further time chasing the United star as per L’Equipe and are instead focusing on bringing the City fullback on loan to the San Siro.

“Faced with the Serie A regulations that only allow one British player per year in a squad, AC Milan will not be able to sign both Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) and Kyle Walker (Manchester City) this winter.

Milan have given up?

“Negotiations for the former are very difficult and the Italian leaders have decided not to waste any more time in order to bring in the latter.”

Apart from Milan and Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund are also interested in Rashford while there is also plenty of interest from within the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham United have all been linked with a move for the versatile forward but INEOS have no plans of strengthening a direct domestic rival.

This leaves the Catalan giants in pole position if they can agree a wage packet with both the player and club and it will be interesting to see if they include an option to buy in the deal or not.

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Ayantan Chowdhury

Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25

“Only a matter of time”: United star close to January exit after club told him to search for a new team – report

January 18, 2025

Manchester United reportedly told Tyrell Malacia that he is free to leave the club before the winter transfer window closes on February 3.

Malacia has made just six appearances since returning from an injury which kept him sidelined for the better part of 18 months.

Erik ten Hag was reliant on Malacia but this doesn’t appear to be the case under Ruben Amorim, who is also believed to be on the hunt for a left-wing-back, capable of slotting into his preferred 3-4-3 system.

Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that Malacia can seal a loan move this month if United receive offers for him.

Now, Voetbal International report that after United’s 3-1 win over Southampton on Thursday, the club informed Malacia to search for a new club.

According to the news outlet, “Tyrell Malacia (25) is leaving Manchester United. The left back will be loaned out. Sources close to the player have confirmed this.”

“On Friday, Manchester United informed Malacia that he may leave. Initially, this will be via a loan transfer. A good solution for the Rotterdammer, so that he can play a lot of minutes somewhere after his long rehabilitation.”

“It is only a matter of time before Malacia leaves Old Trafford behind. The left back wants to give his yes word to a new club in the very short term. There the left back will be given the space to fight back to the level before his injury.”

It’s understood that there is a high level of interest in the Netherlands international.

Joost Blaauwhof notes that clubs from almost every top league in Europe have asked about the possibility of taking him until the end of the season.

Malacia moved from Feyenoord to United in 2022 for a fee of €15 million. He featured for the Red Devils on a total of 45 occasions.

United are back in action in the Premier League on Sunday as they take on Brighton & Hove Albion at home.

Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Derick Kinoti

Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!

“Only a matter of time”: United star close to January exit after club told him to search for a new team – report

January 18, 2025