Manchester United have reportedly given Antony a stern warning regarding the consequences of refusing to move away from the club.
The 25-year-old has largely been a conundrum for the Red Devils since signing from Ajax in the summer of 2022 for a whopping £86 million.
The Brazilian failed to impress during his two and a half years at Carrington, but he finally found his form again after completing a loan switch to Real Betis last January. The winger managed to produce ‘magical’ displays for the Andalusians, helping them book their place in the final of the Conference League, before falling short against Chelsea.
Man United trying to force Antony out as Real Betis offer falls short
Shortly following his arrival, Betis have made abundantly clear that they hope to maintain Antony’s services beyond his loan stint. The player is also in favour of the move, as he found the joy of playing football again at Manuel Pellegrini’s court.
But according to ABC Sevilla, this transfer remains easier said than done, as the LaLiga side is struggling to meet the requests set by Man Utd.
The Premier League giants are seeking a permanent transfer, while setting their asking price at circa £35 million in order to avoid recording a capital loss. On the other hand, Betis are gunning for another loan with an option to buy.
While Man Utd were happy to accept this formula in Marcus Rashford’s transfer to Barcelona, they are adopting a different stance with Antony. As the source explains, INEOS firmly believe they would be able to sell the England international to another Premier League club next summer without registering a financial loss, while the Brazilian’s situation is more delicate.
Therefore, United’s management is pushing the former Ajax star to accept one of the financially satisfying offers on the table from Turkiye or Saudi Arabia, otherwise, he will be left on the sidelines until the transfer market reopens in January.
Ruben Amorim’s promise in tatters?
INEOS’ stance thus contradicts Ruben Amorim’s comments in recent weeks. The Portuguese manager had promised Antony and the other outcasts (Garnacho, Sancho and Malacia) that he would reinstate them in the squad if they fail to find complete transfers this summer.
Therefore, it remains to be seen if Antony will succumb to the pressure and accept one of the proposed destinations, or hold out for his desired move to Betis.
| Antony’s Stats by Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Manchester United | 96 | 12 | 5 |
| Ajax | 82 | 24 | 22 |
| Real Betis | 26 | 9 | 5 |
The Spanish report adds that the Andalusian club has also offered Man Utd a co-ownership deal, that would see them only purchase part of the player’s contract this summer, before either buying the remaining part next summer, or selling him to another club, with both clubs sharing the spoils. However, United weren’t enticed by this proposal, as they intend to fully cash in on the winger this summer.
