Antony has spoken out after his move from Manchester United to Real Betis collapsed, leaving his future at Old Trafford uncertain with only days left in the transfer window.
The Brazilian winger had been set for a permanent switch to Spain after Betis struck a £21.6 million agreement with United, plus £2.6m in potential add-ons. The deal would have marked the end of Antony’s troubled spell at Old Trafford, with United prepared to take a significant financial loss on the player they signed from Ajax for £82m in 2022.
However, on Friday evening Betis announced they were withdrawing from negotiations. In their statement, the La Liga club made clear the financial package was simply beyond their reach.
“There is no agreement and we have withdrawn the transfer offer because Real Betis cannot afford the transfer fee and the amounts Manchester United must pay the player before the transfer,” the club said.
United officials suspect Betis may still be attempting to force a better deal, but with time running out in the window, Antony’s situation is looking increasingly complicated.
The 25-year-old has two years remaining on his contract in Manchester and is on a wage that Betis are unwilling to match. Sources suggest Antony has no intention of reducing his salary expectations, creating a stand-off between all parties.
Despite the setback, Antony appeared relaxed. Posting on Instagram, he shared a photo of himself at dinner with friends, accompanied by the caption: “Among family and friends, life always has a big surprise in store for us.”
Antony spent part of last season on loan at Betis, where he impressed by helping the club reach the UEFA Conference League final, eventually losing to Chelsea. His performances had convinced Betis to try and bring him back permanently.
Back at United this summer, Antony was placed in the club’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ — a group of players deemed surplus to Erik ten Hag’s plans and kept away from the first team. That list also included Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia. Rashford has since secured a loan move to Barcelona, while Garnacho is closing in on a £40m transfer to Chelsea.
For now, Antony remains in limbo — still a United player, but without a clear path back into the squad, and with his potential exit hanging in the balance as the transfer deadline approaches.
