Manchester United favourite Edwin van der Sar has had his say on the club's summer plans including a surprise shout for the out of favour Antony to be given a reprieve
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22:09, 14 Jun 2025
Manchester United have been told to consider handing Antony a lifeline
(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Edwin van der Sar reckons Manchester United could do worse than hand Antony an unexpected chance to salvage his Old Trafford career - even if the former Red Devils favourite acknowledges that doing so may be easier said than done.
The winger, 25, has been unable to replicate the dazzling Eredivisie performances that convinced United to part with £86million to sign him back in the summer of 2022 and spent the last six months of the 2024-25 campaign on loan with Real Betis.
Antony has found a new lease of life in Spain, though, registering 14 goal contributions in 26 games to help the club reach the Europa Conference League final.
Betis and Antony have expressed a desire to make the move permanent but there are serious doubts that the La Liga outfit could finance such a deal.
And while United are planning to offload Antony in order to raise some much needed transfer funds, Van der Sar has broached the idea of reintegrating the Brazilian.
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The former United goalkeeper told The Sun: "Luckily, I'm not in a position anymore to dictate at a club which kind of players have to come, but they're on the right track by signing a more experienced striker, maybe with another one on the way.
"The two players they signed in the winter break were good, so they should be fine if they give faith to the manager.
"Maybe [Alejandro] Garnacho's going to go, I would say bring Antony back, but I'm not sure if that's realistic."
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Edwin van der Sar has suggested that Antony should be given a reprieve
Join the debate! Should Man Utd sell or keep Antony this summer? Let us know here
While there has been little talk of Antony returning to Manchester United's first-team there has been speculation Erik ten Hag could attempt to bring the winger to Bayer Leverkusen after signing the player for United from Ajax.
For his part, Antony has made no secret of his desire to return to Betis, saying: "I love the club, the city, everything. The sunshine, the people, the food: it reminds me of Brazil.
"And most importantly, I’ve found myself. I wasn’t playing much [at Manchester United]. I needed to be happy in myself."
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