Real Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo has revealed Antony is the Spanish club’s “best signing” ever after the winger’s brilliant performance yesterday – and it’s one Manchester United will be praying their former player repeats for one key reason.
Antony dazzles against English opposition
Real Betis welcomed Nottingham Forest to the Villamarin Stadium last night for a Europa League clash.
And despite going behind twice to the Premier League side, Antony inspired Los Verdiblancos to fight back to secure a 2-2 draw, assisting Betis’ first goal before scoring the equaliser in the 89th minute himself.
It was the Brazil international’s arrival in the January transfer window on loan from Old Trafford which inspired Betis’ superb second half of the campaign last season.
Antony returned nine goals and five assists in 26 appearances for his adopted side, propelling them to the final of the Europa Conference League – the club’s first European final in its 119-year history – and sixth place in LaLiga, securing Europa League football in the process.
Betis were keen to extend the 25-year-old’s stay in the green and white side of Seville, eventually agreeing a £21.6 million deal with United after months of protracted negotiations – but the reward for this patience are performances like last night.
The Signing in Betis’ History
Fajardo, the key driver behind securing Antony on a permanent transfer, was effusive in his praise of the former Red Devil, describing him as the “most important signing in Betis’ history” to the PA news agency.
“I am 100% sure that maybe Antony is the most important signing in Betis’ history. Everything [about the signing] because the talent, the level of the player, the level of the club as Manchester United — a big team, a big project, so I am 100% sure that Antony is the best signing in Betis’ history.”
“When players like Antony comes to Betis, it’s very, very important. It helps Betis to continue growing in Europe. Last season since Antony arrived, we got to play in a European final.
“Antony, players like Gio [Lo Celso] and Isco, are very, very important because they are the example that Betis continues growing, that we are a serious club in Europe and players in the top level want to come to play in Betis.”
United included a sell-on clause in Antony’s exit, ESPN reveals, entitling the Red Devils to 50% of any profits from a future transfer.
And given the winger has continued his superb form in Spain this season, it’s almost certain bigger clubs in LaLiga and elsewhere in Europe will come knocking if he maintains these performances for the remainder of the campaign.
At which point, United will bank 50% of the profits from any deal that is struck – a welcome boost for a player no longer under contract at Old Trafford.
Featured image Octavio Passos via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
