Real Betis have refused to throw in the towel in their bid to sign Manchester United forward Antony on a permanent transfer.
According to Spanish news outlet AS, the Europa Conference League finalists are mapping out another plan to make the Brazilian winger their marquee signing this summer.
Betis want to sign Antony on an initial loan deal. They had explored a deal that would include an option to sign Antony for around £35 million, but United have made it clear that they want at least £40m.
After his fantastic loan spell with Los Verdiblancos, United are convinced that they can recoup a significant chunk of the £81.3m they paid to sign him from Ajax three years ago.
Antony joined Betis for the second half of last season and was in outstanding form. He registered five goals and two assists in La Liga, helping Betis finish sixth and secure a spot in the Europa League.
He was also pivotal in their run to the Conference League final, where they were beaten by Chelsea.
His contributions have made him a priority target for Betis this summer. They’re struggling to match United’s demands but have refused to seek reinforcements elsewhere.
Betis are now proposing a permanent transfer, although not the straightforward deal United want.
They want to replicate the so-called “Abde formula” – a deal that worked wonders in their negotiation with Barcelona last summer.
That strategy allowed Betis to sign Abde Ezzalzouli for just €7.5m (£6.4m). They had only a 50% stake in the player, while Barca retained future rights.
It was a complicated yet bold and creative move that ultimately benefited all parties, and Betis are looking to repeat that trick with United.
They want to sign Antony for a cut-price upfront fee while keeping United heavily invested in the player’s future through a significant resale percentage and several other benefits.
The deal would allow Antony to grow under Manuel Pellegrini and increase his value if he maintains his current form, with everyone ultimately getting a piece of the pie down the line.
Antony is on holiday but has made it clear he wants to stay at Betis, although Bayer Leverkusen are also in the mix, with Erik ten Hag eyeing a second reunion.
It would be interesting to see if both clubs can come to an agreement using this formula.