It can be argued that the biggest success story at Manchester United this season is a player who isn’t at the club, as Antony has flown out of the blocks at Real Betis.
Antony went to Real Betis in the winter window as a distressed asset, evidenced by the fact that the Spanish team didn’t even negotiate a buy option in the loan deal.
Since then, Antony has become Betis’ talisman, from being man of the match on his debut to impressing his teammates and manager alike.
It leaves United with a brilliant opportunity to cash in on a player who they thought had no value anymore, even if Betis seem reluctant right now.
Betis’ stance could well be challenged by the club’s fans, however, if the latest news coming out of the club is any indication.
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Real Betis fans send Antony to the top
It would be fair to say that there was a hint of schadenfreude when Antony kept being awarded man of the match because he had effectively become a joke at Old Trafford, unfairly so.
Since then, his form has silenced doubters and the plaudits he’s received from the media have been completely deserved.
The fans love him, and that is shown in the latest economic impact for Betis as reported by local outlet Diario de Sevilla.
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The outlet reports that in just two months since arriving, Antony has already become the top shirt seller in Betis, surpassing resident talisman Isco in the process.
Betis have sold 1,169 personalised Antony shirts for a total of €110, 412, far ahead of Isco, 912 sales for €86,138 in the same time span.
It goes without saying that Betis aren’t getting all that money for themselves, but this economic impact directly translates to sponsorship opportunities, and increased visibility in a big market like Brazil, thereby a knock-on revenue effect.
Man Utd in win-win situation on Antony
Betis will probably be fuming that news like this is coming out while they’re locked in a poker game with United over the future of the player.
However, Antony’s impact can’t be understated anymore and these figures only give a factual context to what everyone is seeing with their eyes.
The Brazilian is a genuine force to be reckoned with and if Betis are not willing to cough up the cash, other La Liga teams will undoubtedly enter the market.
Either that forces Betis’ hand into convincing United with an offer, or the club looks elsewhere and tries to incite a bidding war for a player who had negative value just three months ago.
It’s a win-win situation for United on a player who looked like an albatross on the books not so long ago.