Antony enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Betis last season and United are keen to sell him this summer
Antony during his loan spell at Real Betis
Antony during his loan spell at Real Betis(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images.)
Real Betis 'cannot go crazy' in their pursuit to sign Manchester United winger Antony this summer and are taking an 'imaginative' approach towards negotiations.
That is the verdict of Real Betis president Angel Haro, who says the Spanish side cannot break their financial discipline when it comes to satisfying the Brazil international's wage demands.
Antony joined United in a £82million transfer from Ajax in the summer of 2022 but has struggled to make a mark at Old Trafford.
The 25-year-old was shipped off on loan to Betis in January and he reinvigorated his career with the Andalusian side.
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He scored nine goals and registered five assists to help Betis qualify for European football, as well as reach the UEFA Conference League final.
His form earned him a recall to the Brazilian national team side but while he will return to Carrington next week for pre-season training, his future belongs away from Old Trafford.
United have made it a priority to sell Antony, who still has two years remaining on his contract, this summer but would have to sell him for £32.85million in order to not make a loss on him when it comes to the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR).
Betis broke the world transfer record in 1998 with a £21.5million move for Brazilian international Denilson and that fee remains their record transfer 27 years on.
And while Haro believes there is a mutual desire for Antony to return to Betis, he insists he will have to take a 'considerable reduction in salary' for the move to happen.
"We’re talking to the player because coming to Betis entails a considerable reduction in salary, because we have to maintain our financial discipline and we don’t want to break it," he told Cope Sevilla, via Sport Witness.
"He’s a fantastic player; he’s given us a lot in the last six months, but we have to get everything right; we cannot go crazy. We’re working on that path because it’s not easy.
"We’re very imaginative when it comes to approaching this type of transaction, but it’s complex. It involves the player, who loves Betis, but he also has to consider his own interests.
"We’ll have to see if he comes; he’s no longer here. We’re working on that path; it won’t be easy. Manchester [United] paid a significant amount, and he has two years left on his contract."