A first-team Manchester United player has been thrown a potential lifeline at sealing a move away from Old Trafford to one Champions League side, according to stunning reports.
The new Premier League season is around the corner and the Red Devils will begin their 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford next week under manager Ruben Amorim.
Manchester United’s Premier League fixture list dropped in June and Ruben Amorim’s men faced a tough opening test to the season against Arsenal.
Ahead of the Red Devils’ encounter with Arsenal on 17th August, United will play their final match of their pre-season campaign on Saturday against Fiorentina.
Amorim’s side concluded their pre-season tour of the United States last Sunday and United signed off their visit against Everton, with a 2-2 draw played out in Atlanta.
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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim during the Europa League match between Manchester United and Athletic Club at Old Trafford in 2025 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Antony handed a potential route out of Old Trafford amid Real Betis’ transfer interest in the Man Utd star
Antony has not been part of Ruben Amorim’s pre-season campaign and the ex-Ajax star has been frozen out of the Manchester United first-team squad after his return.
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The 25-year-old Brazilian attacker was able to revive his career away from Old Trafford after he signed for La Liga outfit Real Betis during the January window.
Antony impressed during his loan spell in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign for Real Betis, but his contract expired with the Spanish club on 30th June.
The Brazil international has been on the hunt for a new club after being marked as surplus to requirements under United manager Amorim after his return to United.
According to Goal, United are ‘still waiting for offers’ for Antony and the Red Devils are holding out for a transfer fee of around £34.7m (€40m) for the ex-Betis ace.
The publication now reports that Champions League outfit Benfica have made an ‘enquiry about the player’ and could try to sign Antony ahead of Betis.
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Why have Real Betis not made an offer for Antony after the Man Utd star’s superb loan spell in La Liga?
Real Betis have been linked with Antony again and the wantaway United winger is believed to be holding out for a potential return to the Spanish side this summer.
Goal have said that United want to ‘permanently’ sell Antony this summer and the Red Devils are ‘suffering from a lack of offers’ for the former Sao Paulo talent.
It is believed that Betis have not met the valuation that United want for the former Ajax ace and Antony’s position had been that he wanted to ‘stay’ at the La Liga club.
The ‘main obstacle’ that is preventing the Spanish team from signing Antony permanently is the ‘financial aspect,’ with United’s fee ‘too high’ for Betis.