Manchester United are confident they will be able to sell Antony for £40m this summer after his Spanish renaissance.
The Brazilian has starred for Real Betis since joining on loan in January, scoring four times – as many as he mustered in his last two seasons in England – as well as registering four assists in 12 appearances.
Such form is alerting potential suitors. The i Paper has been told Atletico Madrid, as well as several Italian clubs, are monitoring Antony’s revival. Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini and several players have already expressed their desire to keep the loanee beyond this term, but it is understood the Seville-based club would struggle to meet United’s valuation.
United set their £40m price tag as Antony departed for Spain, but several sources said at the time they felt such a fee, given how he has disappointed on English soil since becoming the third most expensive Premier League signing in 2022, was too high.
Those same figures now feel that value is more realistic. Antony’s fine form has helped propel Betis up La Liga and into sixth place, with European football beckoning next season.
Betis’ thrilling derby victory over Sevilla at the weekend, where Antony led the celebrations after impressing in the encounter, waving a huge Betis flag to rapturous applause, was their sixth win in a row.
“We need to crowdfund so he [Antony] can stay at least another year,” Isco said after Betis’s weekend win.
“He has surprised us all with his humility and with his willingness to help and add. We have noticed a change since he arrived.”
Antony’s camp are not ruling out the player rebuilding his career at Old Trafford but sources insist that is very unlikely to happen.
United co-owners Ineos are already setting the wheels in motion for a summer clear out. As many as 10 players could be sold in order to raise the funds Ruben Amorim needs to conduct a squad overhaul.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is willing to back Amorim in allowing him to bring in the type of players he needs to fit into his footballing ethos. Young players in peak fitness are the main requirement.
To facilitate that rebuild, United must generate income from player sales – an area they have fallen well behind their rivals in recent years. This will be especially crucial if they do not win the Europa League to earn qualification for next season’s Champions League and the riches that brings.
Moving Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on helped United generate close to £100m in players sales last summer, but they are going to need to break that figure and some to give Amorim the tools he needs to drive lasting change.
It is hoped that Antony and another rejuvenated forward out on loan, Marcus Rashford, can generate around £80m, with Aston Villa retaining a £40m option to make the 27-year-old’s move to the Midlands a permanent one.
Cashing in on either Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho remains a serious option this summer. Mainoo is understood to be entertaining the idea of seeking a move away from the club, with the youngster yet to put pen to paper on a new contract.
Amorim is not completely convinced Mainoo has the fitness levels to be a success in his system. The club would therefore reluctantly sell for offers of around £70m, sources said.
Mainoo is of interest to Chelsea, who also considered a January swoop for Garnacho. They could revisit the move for the Argentine in the summer, with Napoli also keen.