The loan army of Manchester United this season has thrown up some unexpected surprises but perhaps none comes bigger than Antony.
Antony’s loan move to Real Betis till the end of the season was made official in such circumstances that Betis were ridiculed for taking a punt on the Brazilian.
So extreme was the narrative that there was an element of schadenfreude involved when Antony kept getting MOTM awards in his first games.
Since then, those awards have been very well deserved, with Antony shining at Betis, even though his reasons for the same might be debatable!
Now, beyond the weather and city, he has credited one person for helping him unlock the lost confidence in his game with positivity. It doesn’t reflect well on Ruben Amorim.
Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/JAR Sport Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/JAR Sport Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Antony thanks Real Betis man for form
Antony already has four goals and four assists in 11 appearances across all competitions for Betis, becoming the fans’ most-loved player in Seville.
Betis have been hesitant about buying Antony permanently, but his form might leave them with no choice but to go ahead.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian is just full of gratitude after rediscovering his love for the game and despite being loved by his teammates and manager alike, he namechecked Manuel Pellegrini in particular in an interview with Relevo.
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He said: “He [Manuel Pellegrini] gave me a lot of confidence and has been very positive in helping me feel confident on the pitch as well.”
He added that he was happy with how his loan had gone so far, saying that he has ‘achieved a lot’.
He said: “I’ve achieved a lot. Goals, assists, not losing the ball too much… I’ve got a lot going for me there.”
Antony’s Pellegrini praise and Ruben Amorim
While it must be stressed that at no point does Antony call out Ruben Amorim- he merely praises Pellegrini- it’s impossible to not read into it subliminally.
Amorim brushed aside Antony’s form earlier this year, something which infuriated the player’s agent and making him do a strong retort.
It was clear from the very first moment Amorim arrived that he looked at Antony as effectively a mistake of the previous management, reflected in his handling of the player.
Scattered appearances here and there in multiple positions spoke of a manager who didn’t rate him highly and, in turn, the player’s confidence suffered.
Antony’s praise for Pellegrini, particularly for giving confidence to him reflects badly on Amorim who’s shown a propensity to completely sideline players he doesn’t rate.
At least it has worked out best for all parties. Regardless of how well he does in Spain, the smart bet is that he’s definitely played his last game for United.