Antony’s transfer from Manchester United to Real Betis this summer has hit a dead end
The Antony issue has been a headache for Manchester United throughout the summer. The club has tried repeatedly to sell the Brazilian winger, but the matter kept getting stuck somewhere. His loan spell at Real Betis was excellent, where he scored nine goals in 26 games and found his lost form. Despite this, no club was willing to agree to United’s valuationand Antony’s salary terms. Initial reports also said that the player himself was waiting for a new offer from Betis, but now the situation has taken a completely different turn.
Key transfer reports and circumstances
According to the Daily Mail report, there was a sudden big twist on Friday night when Real Betis made it clear that they would not go ahead with Antony’s transfer. Earlier, it was reported that a package of £21.6 million had been finalised between United and Betis, which also included a 50 per cent sell-on clause. Antony was given the go-ahead to move to Spain and finalise personal terms. However, a dispute arose over wages and an exit payment, which Antony’s camp is still not willing to accept.
Betis released a public statement saying they could not afford the huge financial burden and pulled out of the deal. The statement was surprising as the Brazilian had raised expectations at Betis, and the club wanted him back. However, United’s private belief is that this is Betis’ way of pressuring them. Early reports in July suggested that United were struggling to sell Antony, and this situation is the latest example of that.
A club statement read: ‘There is no agreement and we have withdrawn the transfer offer because Real Betis can’t afford the transfer fee and the amounts that Manchester United must [instead] pay the player before the transfer.’
What’s next?
Antony's transfer from Manchester United to Real Betis this summer has hit a dead end.
Manchester United were hit by a Friday night transfer bombshell after Real Betis dramatically announced they are pulling out of their move for Antony, despite agreeing a £21.6million move for the Brazilian.
As United supporters, we have to say that this whole thing has gotten very messy. The 25-year-old was brought in at a huge cost to the club, and expectations were high from the start, but his run in the Premier League has been lacklustre. He has re-ignited his game to some extent since moving to Betis, and it looked like there might be a permanent solution. Still, the deal falling apart makes United look weak and disorganised. It shows that the club is still stuck getting rid of players who are worth a lot of money but are not performing as expected.
It is also a big blow for Antony. The form he found at Betis could have helped give his career a new direction. Now that the deal is in limbo, he is back in uncertainty. If nothing is resolved in this transfer window, the next opportunity will come in January, but until then, without playing a game could affect both his form and confidence.
The whole controversy could also have an impact on his international career. To make it to a strong team like Brazil, players need to perform consistently well. If Antony just serves out his contract at Old Trafford and does not play regularly, his national team prospects could be weakened. From this perspective, this is a crucial time for Antony and for United; it is once again a lesson on how investing heavily in a player without a solid plan can cost the club in the long run.