The enigmatic Brazilian winger has made a stunning start to his loan spell in Spain, and La Liga champions Real Madrid could be his next victims.
Let’s rewind to January 16, when Manchester United hosted bottom-of-the-table Southampton at Old Trafford, desperate to end a three-game losing streak at home. The Red Devils trailed 1-0 at halftime, courtesy of a Manuel Ugarte own-goal. In search of a spark, head coach Ruben Amorim introduced Antony for Kobbie Mainoo at the start of the second half.
Now, just weeks later, the once-maligned Brazilian is thriving at Real Betis, proving doubters wrong and shaking off the weight of his £85m price tag. As he regains his confidence, Real Madrid should be on high alert—Antony could be gearing up for his biggest statement yet in Spain.
At the 60-minute mark, Antony had a golden opportunity to bring Manchester United level. Alejandro Garnacho surged into the box and drilled a low cross to the back post, leaving Antony with what looked like a simple tap-in from just a yard out. However, the Brazilian completely mishit his sliding attempt with his weaker right foot, sending the ball harmlessly into the arms of a relieved Southampton goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale.
“That’s the miss of the season. I can’t believe that. Why has he gone to ground?” questioned Ally McCoist, former Rangers and Scotland striker, while commentating for TNT Sports.
For the United fans in attendance that night, though, it was anything but a surprise.
Antony had long been a figure of ridicule at Old Trafford, with a woeful record of just five goals in 60 Premier League appearances—a shocking return for a player Manchester United spent £85 million ($108m) on when signing him from Ajax in August 2023.
That glaring miss against Southampton seemed to be the final straw, as United sanctioned his loan move to Real Betis just 10 days later after receiving an appealing offer from the Spanish club.
At that moment, Antony’s reputation as one of United’s biggest transfer flops appeared sealed. But now, no one is laughing. The Brazilian winger has stunned his critics with an electric start at Betis, and as he prepares for a blockbuster showdown against Real Madrid on Saturday, his name is being mentioned alongside global superstars like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Instant Impact
According to BBC Sport, Real Betis agreed to cover 84% of Antony’s salary during his six-month loan, amounting to over £100,000 per week. It was a major financial commitment for the mid-table La Liga club, but one they believed would pay off. Sporting director Manu Fajardo told Marca, “Antony’s arrival is exciting. From the sporting management and the coaching staff, we understood that we had to improve the second line of attack.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United were hoping Antony could impress enough to increase his market value ahead of a potential permanent summer move. The Athletic reported that United would ideally seek a sale price of around £34m ($43m).
They would have been thrilled, then, to see Antony make an instant impact on his Betis debut.
Thrown straight into Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI against Athletic Club, Antony played a key role in the opening goal after just 15 minutes. His powerful shot forced a full-stretch save from Athletic goalkeeper Adrian, with the rebound falling perfectly for Isco to score. Although Betis were held to a 2-2 draw, it was a strong result against a team competing for Champions League qualification—and Antony was named Player of the Match.
It was a well-deserved honor after an electric performance, where the Brazilian constantly ran at defenders and displayed composure in the final third—two things he rarely did at United. But perhaps the most noticeable change?
The big smile finally back on his face.
Liberated from Fear
It took just 11 minutes for Antony to make an impact in his second game for Real Betis against Celta Vigo, as he curled a precise finish into the far corner—his first league goal of the entire 2024-25 season. Diego Llorente soon doubled Betis’ lead, but a shocking second-half collapse saw Celta mount a 3-2 comeback victory.
Antony claimed his second consecutive Player of the Match award, but the personal accolade was little consolation. In a post-match interview with DAZN, he didn’t hold back in his frustration:
“We have to change our mentality. We scored two but we have to be focused for the whole game, the 90 minutes. We have to work to be better. Betis must start and finish well. We have to work harder and look at what we are not doing well to win the three points.”
Where was this level of honesty and leadership during his time at Manchester United?
At Old Trafford, Antony often seemed to crumble under pressure, unable to cope with the weight of his £85m price tag. But in Seville, he looks like a player free from fear, embracing his role with confidence and determination.
It didn’t take long for Betis to start considering a permanent move for the Brazilian. When asked about the possibility of keeping Antony beyond his loan spell, Betis CEO Ramon Alcaron told Cadena SER:
“I think so. There is very good chemistry with Manchester [United] and with the player. It is a possibility that he will continue next season, why not?”