Real Betis have confirmed that talks are ongoing with Manchester United to try and hash out a deal for Antony.
From INEOS’ perspective, they’re likely starting to grow increasingly frustrated with the lack of movement.
It became common knowledge a matter of months into Antony’s loan spell with Betis that both he and the club would be open to extending their relationship beyond the culmination of the 2024/2025 campaign. However, to do so, fresh terms need to be agreed upon with United.
Antony’s situation: The state of play
United would need to recuperate around £32.58 million through the sale of the Brazilian in order to avoid a PSR hit, and it’s thought that’s the fee they will demand when it comes to offloading him this summer.
Whether Betis are willing to meet his price tag all in one go remains to be seen, but that’s certainly the route the Reds would prefer to replenish the transfer kitty whilst there’s still plenty of the window left.
An obstacle, however, is that the 25-year-old’s wages — believed to be in the region of £200,000 per week — are too high for the La Liga outfit, although reports have suggested he is willing to take a 30 per cent pay cut to ensure he returns to Seville before 2025/2026 gets underway.
It was also claimed last month that Antony had rebuffed an approach from Como, with his revitalised form in the second half of the season clearly catching the eye of head coach Cesc Fabregas over in Italy.
He remains committed to repaying Manuel Pellegrini’s faith, though, so United fans are anticipating that the switch will materialise one way or another in the near future.
What’s Real Betis’ latest stance on Antony?
Betis president Angel Haro was pressed for an update on the matter recently and told Estadio Deportivo: “We’re talking to the player because coming to Betis entails a considerable reduction in salary, because we have to maintain our financial discipline and we don’t want to break it.
“He’s a fantastic player; he’s given us a lot in the last six months, but we have to get everything right; we can’t go crazy. We’re working on that path because it’s not easy.
“We’re very imaginative when it comes to approaching this type of transaction, but it’s complex. It involves the player, who loves Betis, but he also has to consider his own interests.”
Has a United supporter for over sixty years Antony has been treated very badly. When he has played he gives all he is no worse than any other on the pitch and in my opinion he is better than most of is team mates on the day .
I hope he gets a transfer to Real Betis he deserves to be treated fairly.
Sancho swap deal should be for for Vlahovic not Luiz.
We need a CF first and a younger midfielder with energy and speed alongside Fernandes. There was lots of times our midfield got caught for pace last season, which ended in the opposition scoring, and we don’t want to see that happen again. A younger fitter player with energy is what we need.
A big strong CF like Vlahovic who can hold up the ball for Cunha and Mbeumo would suit us better, and if can can add 20/25 goals himself it would be great business.
Man.Utd. should be going for the best but we seemingly can’t afford Osimhen, who would be the best choice.