Antony, one of Manchester United's "Bomb Squad" members and a prime example of poor signings in the post-Ferguson era, saw the club pay an exorbitant fee for his services. He was one of former manager Erik ten Hag's failed signings, despite the fact that the pair had won consecutive titles together at Ajax previously.
However, after years of misery and ridicule, the Brazilian, who endured a disappointing spell at United, completed a permanent transfer to Betis this summer. He was held in immense adoration in Triana, the club's local stronghold—like a returning football messiah, his face became a striking sight opposite the local cathedral, displayed in the window of the official Betis club store in the city center.
Antony's transfer led to over 1,000 jerseys emblazoned with his name being snapped up, and his new merchandise collection sold out entirely. This helped Betis raise the funds needed to cover his transfer fee. His official unveiling video featured a computer-generated goat running across the Puente de Isabel II—and you could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from Manchester United, as they finally cut ties with him.
Tonight, more fans will flock to Betis' home ground, the Benito Villamarín Stadium (note: "Cartuja Stadium" in the original text likely refers to the Benito Villamarín, Betis' actual home), to watch their team take on Nottingham Forest. Iker, a Betis fan, said: “Antony is our best signing. I don't know what happened in England, but we love our player—he could win the Ballon d'Or next year.”
Between the Iron Bridge and the 600-year-old cathedral stands Spain's famous bullring—a stage all too familiar to the 25-year-old Antony. Old Trafford had also been a hostile bullring for him; the red of his jersey felt less like a matador's cape and more like a target. Manchester United initially expressed skepticism about Ajax's £60 million asking price, but successive heavy defeats to Brentford and Brighton plunged the club into panic mode, ultimately leaving them overcharged in the deal.
Subsequently, the Brazilian became a target of fans' mockery. First, it was his eccentric 360-degree spins; soon, his monotonous cut-ins on the left flank also became a talking point. In his second season, he came off the bench in 17 of his 38 appearances. Ten Hag attributed his form to off-field issues, following domestic abuse allegations from three women. Although Antony denied the allegations, voluntarily cooperated with Greater Manchester Police's investigation, was not arrested or charged in either Brazil or the UK, and returned to the Carrington training ground a month after stepping away, he still faced widespread criticism.
Antony also never truly won the endorsement of Manchester United or his teammates. Many questioned his playing ability and his attitude towards staff at the Carrington canteen; his support mainly came from the group of Latin American players in the dressing room.
When Antony joined Betis on loan, the team was in trouble—having won just one of their first nine La Liga matches and been eliminated from the Copa del Rey. The former "failure" at United found immediate success: he scored on his debut and was named Man of the Match, later netting 9 goals and providing 5 assists in 26 appearances, while also helping Betis reach the Europa Conference League final.
Steve Gibson, a 62-year-old former Manchester United player, said: “The biggest difference compared to United is that Antony feels the need for him from everyone at Betis. He has Pellegrini's trust, and the fans are delighted to have the star player they've been hoping for. His mental state is a world apart from what it was at Manchester United. It's tough for a player who doesn't feel needed, but when that changes, the impact can be transformative—as seen in Antony's case.”When Antony failed to win over his Manchester United teammates, Isco once joked that Betis should "kidnap him." Yesterday, on Betis' training ground, teammate Giovani Lo Celso also said: “This summer wasn't easy for Antony. United prevented him from training normally, which made things difficult. I'm so glad he's back.”
Asked how to bring out the best in Antony, Manuel Pellegrini said: "Our style is more creative, and Antony is a creative player, so he feels valued—and that changes your mindset as a player."
