Update: |Spanish media leave Man United in no doubt as they all say the same thing about Antony News

Antony has been in sparkling form ever since joining Real Betis in January, with the Manchester United loanee racking up eight goal involvements in 13 appearances so far

For a player whose career was falling apart in a Manchester United shirt, Antony has shown at Real Betis just how a change of surroundings can do wonders for you.

At Old Trafford, Antony was an £85million burden, but since his January loan move to La Liga, he’s looked like a player reborn. The Brazilian has already notched four goals and four assists for his new club, and has helped them launch a surprise assault on the Champions League spots.

Betis have won seven of their last eight league games, with their only dropped points coming in Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Barcelona. Antony didn’t score, but he did have the Spanish media raving about him once again after the game.

El Desmarque described him as “Barca’s biggest headache” and lauded his work rate: “All of Betis’ danger came through his boots, trying to cause damage on the counterattack.

“He tried to wage war on his own, attacking with one man down on more than one occasion. That prevented him from doing more damage, but his commitment is unquestionable.”

Meanwhile, Estadio Deportivo gave his performance a 9/10 rating. “The Brazilian had a great performance on a big stage, confirming his status as one of La Liga’s biggest stars. He was [manager Manuel] Pellegrini’s go-to man to unleash his team, taking advantage of his spectacular speed to counter Barca’s control. His gallops down the right flank led to almost every dangerous opportunity.”

Elsewhere, Betisweb branded him “invaluable”, beaming: “[Antony was] constantly overflowing. He was Betis’ main offensive focal point, creating danger on several counterattacks. His runs broke lines, but he often found himself alone and forced to play with one man down… his daring performance was invaluable.”

Antony’s loan deal doesn’t include an option to buy clause, but Betis higher-ups have been so impressed with his short stint that they’re determined to make his stay permanent in the summer. “It’s still early, but we’ll try in different ways to do everything possible to ensure Antony stays,” Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo said ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Camp Nou.

The Sao Paolo-born winger joined United from Ajax in 2022, following Erik ten Hag – who’d made the same move weeks before – through the door. His career in England started brightly, but inconsistency quickly sapped his confidence.

Ten Hag’s departure in October last year left Antony without a key ally in the dugout, and with United’s fans and hierarchy growing increasingly frustrated with his performances, a January exit was readily arranged. The club are open to a permanent departure at the end of the season, though they’re keen to recoup as much of the sizeable fee they paid for him three years ago as possible.

His recent resurgence should help boost that asking price up – and may even force a rethink about his long-term future at Old Trafford. But if not, it looks like Real Betis will be ready to welcome him with open arms.