Antony was sent off for Real Betis in their La Liga clash with Girona on Sunday, after he kicked an opponent in the face, and the Brazilian has now issued a statement
Former Man Utd flop Antony was sent off for a dangerous overhead kick while playing for Real Betis.
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Former Man Utd flop Antony has broken his silence after being shown a red card for kicking an opponent in the head during a recent outing for Real Betis. The 25-year-old returned to the starting XI for Los Verdiblancos after the November international break, as his team faced Girona in a La Liga encounter.
Girona grabbed a shock opener through Vladyslav Vanat, before Real Betis levelled matters through Valentin Gomez, with both sides pushing for a decisive goal. That crucial second goal remained out of reach, despite the hosts' relentless efforts, which proved overzealous at times; Antony's determination ultimately led to a sending-off.
The Brazilian attempted an overhead kick to control the ball, but inadvertently caught Joel Roca in the face, an incident that was reviewed and punished following a VAR check.
He later shared a message on his Instagram story, which was translated from Spanish, stating: "Very sad about the red card! All I wanted was to help my team win!".
"A completely unintentional play. Sorry to all the fans who have always supported me!"
Antony now faces a period on the sidelines as he completes his ban for the dismissal, casting a shadow over what has otherwise been an encouraging beginning to his permanent spell with Real Betis.
This season, the 25-year-old has registered four goals and one assist across nine La Liga matches, adapting well to a new league setting.
Former Man United star Antony leaves the pitch after being shown a red card during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Betis and Girona.
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That scenario nearly played out differently, though, with Antony revealing that Bayern Munich had held discussions about a potential transfer during the summer window, after the German giants struggled to secure attacking reinforcements.
Whilst this caught many off guard, Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund recently confirmed to Sky Germany: "This period wasn't exactly quiet. A lot happened. We were involved with several players, Antony was one of them.
"There was also a conversation, but that is in the past. We are very happy with how the squad is currently set up. In the end, at the close of the transfer window, we came out well and are satisfied."
Marc Bartra reacts after Antony (not pictured) was sent off for Real Betis.
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However, Antony chose to rejoin Real Betis instead, where supporters have embraced him warmly, even applauding him following a red card incident.
It represents a stark contrast to his spell at Manchester United, though it appears to be an environment where he's now thriving.
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