Real Betis have long hoped to sign Antony, and the player himself is willing to continue wearing the green-and-white jersey. However, this wish will be put to the test in the coming days, as Antony has recently arrived in Manchester to meet with Manchester United's hierarchy and discuss solutions for his future.
After enjoying his vacation and being granted a few extra days off to explore exit options, Antony has returned to England, ready to clearly express his desire to continue playing for Betis. Yet, this deal is not straightforward.
Throughout the holiday, Antony wore Betis training shorts in all the videos he posted, showing his affection for the club despite his loan deal officially expiring on June 30, leaving him with no contractual ties to Betis.
Antony’s current contract with United runs until 2027. Next, he needs to clearly reaffirm to United that his only wish is to return to Betis. Meanwhile, Betis also needs to communicate with the player’s agent, especially to negotiate with United, who prefer to sell the player outright rather than arrange another loan.
A few weeks ago, Betis and United had initial contact on this issue, discussing a potential deal structured as a "loan with a mandatory buyout clause"—which could be a solution. However, whether this plan will proceed remains to be seen. Additionally, there is a need to watch for potential competition from other clubs. So far, Antony has rejected all options outside of Betis.
