Antony’s Determined Push for Real Betis Move Shakes Up Manchester United’s Summer Plans
There’s no easy path for Antony this summer, but the Brazilian winger has made his intentions clear—only a permanent move to Real Betis will do. With Manchester United open to selling and Betis lacking financial firepower, the transfer saga highlights just how far players will go to shape their own destinies.
Antony, 24, isn’t short of options. São Paulo and Botafogo both lined up with offers to bring him back to Brazil, each dangling the chance to be a headline act in his home league. Saudi clubs even joined the queue with big-money deals—one rumor pointed to Al Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo is the main attraction. Still, Antony only has eyes for Spain, insisting on making last season’s loan at Real Betis into a full-time contract, despite the cash crunch hampering the La Liga club.
What’s stopping this from being a simple transfer? Money—plain and simple. Manchester United have been notorious for holding out for higher fees, a trend much of Europe is watching closely this summer. After splashing out for strikers like Hojlund and seeing inflated prices set for the likes of Matheus Cunha, United isn't keen to accept a cut-price deal for Antony, a player who cost them big a couple of years ago. But that price tag is now a hurdle as they try to recoup value in a market that’s cooled off for most teams outside the Premier League and Saudi Arabia.
Real Betis: Financial Headaches Meet Football Ambition
Antony’s wish to stay in Seville isn’t just emotional—it’s tactical. He hit his stride last season with Betis, helping drive them all the way to the Europa Conference League final. Fans took to his flair and work rate, and Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini relied on him heavily when the season turned tense. But with Real Betis fighting to balance the books and operate within La Liga’s strict spending rules, they simply can’t match what United want, at least not yet.
It’s a standoff—Antony is refusing to return to Brazil or head for the Middle East, despite life-changing sums on offer. He’s betting on himself and betting that United will come around to a more reasonable fee as the window drags on. So far, United sees him as expendable, with new manager Ruben Amorim ready for his own reshuffle as rumors swirl about fresh arrivals and a potential exodus of familiar faces.
This whole situation says a lot about today’s transfer market. Even when money’s on the table, sometimes a player’s ambition for top-level European football wins out over the chance to cash in. Antony’s stand-off also mirrors a broader overhaul at United, whose transfer hand is being forced by overinflated buying sprees now making sales tough to complete. As the saga unfolds, one thing’s for sure: Antony’s tunnel vision for Real Betis won’t fade, and United’s next move could shape both clubs’ seasons.
