The Brazilian forward Antony might not be seen at Manchester United next season either.
After losing himself at Manchester United, Antony now has to say goodbye to Real Betis — the very club where he felt he had ‘found himself’ again. On his way back to Old Trafford, the Brazilian forward expressed his gratitude to everyone at the Spanish club.
Despite making a splash with his move from Ajax to Manchester United in 2022, Antony couldn’t leave his mark there. Over time, then-coach Erik ten Hag lost faith in him.
Under Ruben Amorim’s management, Antony almost faded into the background. Rumors even surfaced about tension between the player and the coach. All in all, Antony faced a tough period both on and off the pitch at Manchester United. In a recent interview, he broke down in tears recalling that difficult phase, saying he even lost his desire to play football.
Antony found relief from that suffocating period when he joined Real Betis on loan last January for the remainder of the season. There, he rediscovered himself. He was man of the match in his very first game, scored his first goal in the next, and kept moving forward from there.
In total, Antony played 26 matches and scored 9 goals for Real Betis. Last Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League final marked his final appearance for the club.
Though his last game wasn’t a happy one, Antony is deeply thankful for everything Betis gave him. Now, with his six-month loan coming to an end, the 25-year-old forward shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, expressing gratitude to the coach, teammates, and everyone at the club.
“Today is the day to thank for the most beautiful chapter of my life. From the moment I stepped into this club, I felt something different. It felt like coming home, like finding a part of myself I thought was lost. With you all, I began to smile again.”
“Thank you for accepting me as one of your own. Thank you for bringing back the joy of playing football for me. Thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with this game. My home, my people — thank you so much.”
Rumors are swirling that Manchester United plans to overhaul the squad this summer, letting go of many players. According to ESPN, alongside Antony, the club intends to sell Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Alejandro Garnacho.
