Manchester United winger Antony is enjoying a good loan spell at Real Betis after leaving Old Trafford in the January transfer window
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Manchester United loanee Antony in action for Real Betis
Manchester United loanee Antony in action for Real Betis
(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United winger Antony could have been handed a second chance to make this month's Brazil squad after Neymar Jr was handed an injury blow at the weekend.
The 25-year-old joined Real Betis in the January transfer window after it became clear that Ruben Amorim did not see the Brazilian as part of his plans. Since moving to La Liga, Antony has made the effort to prove why United were wrong to let him go.
He has bagged three goals and three assists for his new club and has picked up a couple of Man of the Match awards in the process. Such form has not gone unnoticed by Brazil head coach Dorival Junior who named Antony on his shortlist for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina later this month.
However, when the squad was announced last week, the United man had missed out on the squad with veteran winger Neymar Jr making the team instead. The former Barcelona and PSG man recently moved back to boyhood club Santos after an ill-fated spell in Saudi Arabia.
Unfortunately for Neymar, his inclusion in the Brazil squad could be under threat after he was only fit enough for the bench for their defeat to Corinthians. Speaking after the match, the 33-year-old explained he had suffered an injury blow which had prevented him from being subbed on.
"Unfortunately I felt some pain in the recent weeks…" he said as quoted by journalist Fabrizio Romano. "I really wanted to help the team, then we made tests in the morning but I felt pain again."
Such fitness issues have raised doubts to his inclusion in the upcoming Brazil squad which would leave the door open for Antony to be called up in Neymar's absence.