Manchester United fans watched on as Antony and Jadon Sancho locked horns in Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final.
Manchester United suffered European heartbreak last week as Ruben Amorim’s side lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.
There will be no European football at Old Trafford next season, leaving United in a difficult financial position this summer.
Amorim needs new signings and may need to offload some unwanted players to bring in new faces.
Matheus Cunha is poised to join United, but the likes of Antony and Jadon Sancho are primed for the exit.
As luck would have it, Antony and Sancho – two of United’s most disappointing signings in recent memory – faced off in Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final.
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Antony earned a Brazil recall this week having dazzled for Real Betis since his January loan move from United.
The Brazilian saw fellow winger Abde Ezzalzouli open the scoring for Betis on Wednesday night, sparking dreams of an upset against big-spending Chelsea.
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The second half turned into the Cole Palmer show as Chelsea hit four goals to run out winners and leave Antony gutted.
This was arguably Antony’s most disappointing display since joining Betis and the Spanish media were far from impressed.
Chelsea left back Marc Cucurella seemed to have Antony’s number all night long, with the United loanee turning in an ineffectual performance.
The Spanish media clearly expected so much more and were left in shock as Antony ‘vanished’ on the big stage.
“Another player who was crucial to appear and hurt Chelsea. But he didn’t. He faced Marc Cucurella, who completely shut him down. In the first half, the game was on Abde’s wing, and in the second half, he didn’t appear. It remains to be seen whether these were the Brazilian’s last minutes in the green and white jersey,” said El Correo da Andalucia.
“He vanished when Betis needed him most. The Brazilian was a shadow of the player he’s proven to be in other matches. He simply wasn’t there, he didn’t show up,” said El Pespunte.
“Who would have thought it? The most decisive footballer of 2025 disappeared in the final. Things didn’t go his way. They won every duel. His first shot between the sticks came in the 85th minute,” said El Desmarque.
“It was his game. Betis needed him at his best. And nothing came of it. A very weak performance from this other-level signing who collapsed on D-day,” added Mucho Deporte.
Antony couldn’t inspire a Betis victory in Wrocław and now heads back to United with his future unclear.
Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images
Jadon Sancho ends the season with a trophy
United could have earned extra money from Antony’s loan had Betis won the game, but will ultimately hope to sell the Brazilian this summer.
Atletico Madrid are interested in Antony and United will hope that his quiet Europa Conference League final display doesn’t deter his suitors.
Fellow United loanee Sancho came off the bench and found the net to put Chelsea 3-1 up and effectively clinch the trophy.
Sancho curled the ball home for just his third goal of the season, ensuring he ends his season away from Old Trafford with silverware.
Chelsea are yet to make a decision on whether to keep Sancho or send him back to Old Trafford, something United will be anxious to learn very quickly.
The time has come for both Antony and Sancho to leave United for good, but whether they will remain with their loan clubs is still up in the air.