Real Betis’ plan with Antony this summer has been clear for months and reported on constantly by the Seville club’s local media.
Knowing that Manchester United weren’t prepared to offer a straight loan again, Betis have wanted to drag the situation out until the end of the window to then try and pressure the Premier League club into accepting something they would have refused earlier.
There’s been no trick about, Betis have even alluded to it publicly on repeat occasions. It’s also been made clear that if they can’t get the deal they want, they’ll walk away from Antony and sign someone else instead.
[ElDesmarque](https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/real-betis/20250819/betis-pendiente-respuesta-manchester-antony-matheus_300736951.html) report, according to their own information, that contacts between the parties involved have intensified in recent days. Betis are said to be optimistic about the final days of the window.
The report states: _‘A new loan or joint ownership, paying around €20m, are Real Betis’ proposals, always guaranteeing Manchester United, by keeping a percentage of the player, the financial benefits of a possible future sale. The most recent development is that within these clauses, Betis could progressively purchase percentages of the player’s rights. A similar deal to the one made with FC Barcelona for Ez Abde, although in this case the investment would double (and more) what was paid for the Moroccan two summers ago.’_
Essentially that would mean Betis paying €20m for the 25-year-old, and Manchester United getting a big percentage of a future sale. However, if he’s not sold, or if his value drops due to form and age, that’s completely worthless to Manchester United.
It’s worth noting that a progressive purchase of further rights in the Abde case didn’t actually result in any more money for Barcelona, just a further complicated percentage adjustment when Vitor Roque moved… but no money.
ElDesmarque insist that’s all Betis can offer.
Antony has now missed an entire preseason. Whilst he’s been training on his own, the lack of group sessions will almost certainly have an impact on the player in the coming months.
Holding out for a Betis move which may never arrive has been an almighty gamble from the Brazilian and those who represent him, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it could cost him a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the World Cup.
Whichever way Antony’s camp want to look on the player’s desire for Real Betis, that one of La Liga’s best players in the second half of last season is in this situation is absurd.