Real Betis have already identified Bryan Zaragoza as an alternative to Manchester United winger Antony
Real Betis are keeping alive the illusion of reinforcing their attack with an old acquaintance. The fans at the Benito Villamarín remember well what Antony offered last season. The Brazilian winger arrived on loan from Manchester United and quickly won over the fans. His pace, dribbling and hunger for goal revitalised a Betis side looking for alternatives on the wing. Now, as reported by Estadio Deportivo, via Sport Witness, on Wednesday morning, the Betis board are optimistic. They believe the deal can be completed in their favour because there are no other buyers at Old Trafford willing to bid for the player.
In England, the situation has stalled. United can’t find a clear exit for Antony, and Betis are playing with that card. The newspaper AS explains that the Andalusians do not plan to throw the house out of the window, but rather hope that the lack of competition will lower the Red Devils’ demands.
To put a little more pressure on Betis, they are making a move for Bryan Zaragoza. The Malaga attacker, who tried his luck at Bayern Munich after leaving Granada, failed to settle. According to AS, Zaragoza prefers to return to the south and Betis is positioned as an ideal destination. His signing would serve as a plan B if Antony does not end up back at Heliópolis.
Manchester United keep facing deadlock regarding Antony
What should the Red Devils do?
From our point of view, Antony’s future depends on the patience of all parties. If Manchester United keep waiting for an offer that doesn’t come, they will end up accepting less money than they imagined. Betis know how to play with that advantage. However, if the English club want to resolve this story quickly, they should relax their demands and open the door to other teams, not just focus on Betis.
Locking the 25-year-old Brazilian up could end up being a problem for Ruben Amorim, who needs a more focused dressing room. If Antony returns to Seville, he will have the confidence of a fan base that appreciates him and a coach who understands him. If not, his career could get bogged down between bench space and ill-planned loan spells.
We think the Red Devils should offer more attractive conditions to other clubs in LaLiga or even Serie A in order to get him out. We reported earlier that Como are also interested in the winger. Betting everything on Betis paying more is naive. Betis have their plan B ready with Bryan Zaragoza and will not hesitate to change their target if negotiations drag on. Antony needs minutes and stability. United need to close open files. A fair deal benefits everyone.