Antony Eyes Real Betis Return Despite Como Interest

Antony’s time at Manchester United has gone from frustrating to forgettable — and now, he’s doing everything he can to escape it.

The Brazilian winger, signed for a whopping £86 million from Ajax in 2022, has struggled to justify his hefty price tag. In 96 appearances, he’s managed just 12 goals and five assists — a far cry from the impact United hoped he’d make. It’s been such a difficult period that Antony admitted he even contemplated retirement during his time in Manchester. 

But it looks like he’s finally ready to move on. After a promising loan spell at Real Betis last season, the 25-year-old has made it clear he wants a permanent return to Seville — even if it means taking a significant financial hit. According to the Manchester Evening News, Antony is prepared to slash his wages by 30%, down from the reported £150,000 a week, just to get the move across the line. His desire to return to Betis hasn’t gone unnoticed. Italian side Como recently made an attempt to lure him to Serie A, but according to Fabrizio Romano, "Italian side Como have tried to sign Antony in the recent days but Brazilian winger is giving priority to Real Betis return. Man United are also aware of Antony’s preference to continue at Betis next season, no club to club agreement yet." 

While United understand where Antony’s heart lies, they’re also facing financial pressures. After a disastrous 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season, the club are gearing up for a major squad overhaul — and that means raising funds through player sales. United reportedly need to sell Antony for at least £32.4 million to avoid taking a hit under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. That’s the minimum amount they need to balance the books from his original signing, and unfortunately for Betis, that fee might be out of their reach. 

Still, the Spanish club are pushing hard to make it work. Negotiations with United are ongoing, but so far, there’s been no breakthrough. The main hurdle remains the transfer fee, with Betis reluctant to spend big — especially on a player they had for free just a few months ago. 

Meanwhile, United aren’t putting all their eggs in the Antony basket. The club are reportedly open to offloading other high-profile names like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, both of whom have reportedly clashed with manager Ruben Amorim. On the incoming side, the Red Devils have already secured Matheus Cunha and are chasing deals for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. 

For Antony, though, the priority is clear: leave United and start fresh — preferably under the sun in Seville. Whether Betis can stump up the cash remains to be seen, but the player’s willingness to take a pay cut shows just how desperate he is to close the Manchester United chapter for good.