Manchester United continue to remain in deep waters regarding the situation of Antony
Manchester United have spent months trying to patch up a squad laden with recent disappointments. Fans, still savouring past glory, look askance at the board’s every move. The demand to cut losses is no longer a suggestion, but an obligation to remain competitive.
Several recent signings have shown that spending big does not guarantee performance. In this situation, Antony‘s case becomes a reflection of planning errors that drag down the sporting project. The club need to get rid of heavy contracts, but also to recover part of the investment. However, that does not always happen.
Football Insider uncovered that Manchester United could be in a huge mess with Antony. The Brazilian played the second half of the campaign on loan with Real Betis. At Old Trafford, they believe his cycle ran out of steam with no sparkle and no impact. Stefan Borson, an expert consulted by the media, said that there is hardly any interest in the winger.
How concerning is Antony’s apparent preference for Real Betis, given their limited budget, for Manchester United’s transfer strategy?
If the player only wants to return to Betis, the operation is complicated. Los Sevillanos do not have the financial muscle to buy him outright. They would barely be able to sustain the 25-year-old Brazilian’s salary, which, according to rumours, is not as low as previously thought. United thus finds themselves with a player without a market. Meanwhile, United have been adamant on their price.
“It’s a big problem for them if it’s true he only wants to join Betis. I suspect it’s not true. I suspect the reality is that there’s just not that much interest. The problem that Manchester United have with the interest only being from them is that they simply are not going to have the money to pay anywhere near what United need even to break even on the deal. They might be able to pay his wages. Apparently, he’s on reasonable wages, although I find that slightly hard to believe as well. But let’s assume that’s true and he’s on okay wages that they can just about handle. It still doesn’t deal with the fact that they’ve got this problem with what they could afford.”
Opinion:
In our opinion, the club should cut their losses and sell him, even at a loss. Clinging on to recoup every pound invested only prolongs the agony of having a player who does not perform. Antony showed a few moments of his skills at Old Trafford, but his performance does not justify mortgaging a place in the squad. His supposed desire to return to Betis reflects a lack of ambition to fight in the Premier League, which does not fit with the demands of Old Trafford.
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Betis, with a limited budget, will never put a figure close to what United paid on the table. Therefore, we see it as unfeasible to recover a significant percentage of his transfer fee. The logical thing to do would be to focus on reducing his wage bill and opening up wage space for signings that would really raise the level of the team. If one compares his situation with failures like Alexis Sanchez or Donny van de Beek, history repeats itself: expensive signings, poor performances and loan deals that solve nothing.
The most likely scenario is that Antony will go out on loan for another season and hopefully attract interest from another club that can pay more. But we don’t see United getting back even half of what they invested. Better to assume it now and avoid continuing to drag a lost case that takes up space and takes away the illusion of a fan base that deserves more.