September 4, 2022. Antony stepped onto the Old Trafford pitch for the first time following his £87 million move from Ajax.
“The future of our club is secured,” fans said. And for a moment, it truly felt that way.
He announced himself with a curling opener in a 3–1 victory over Arsenal, giving supporters something to believe in. His passionate celebration – finger pointed to the Manchester United badge – sold dreams to the hungry faithful.
That night, he dazzled. Manchester United were proud to call him theirs.
From Promise to Puzzlement
While Manchester United as a team continued to struggle, the Brazilian delivered gasp-worthy moments that offered brief solace. But the club’s misery soon rubbed off on him.
Doubt from fans and pundits turned into outright condemnation – none louder than the night he attempted a showboat move in a crucial game, only to be met with failure and ridicule.
One season bled into the next, but the light at the end of the tunnel never appeared. It was one struggle after another. A change in management followed, and with it, Antony’s place in the squad all but vanished.
From Ajax’s shining light, he had become a forgotten figure at Manchester United. All hope seemed lost.
Antony’s Rebirth: The Betis Lifeline
Then came the winter transfer window – a lifeline, or perhaps just a change of scenery.
On January 15, 2025, Antony’s loan move to Real Betis was confirmed. It was a deal that raised few eyebrows and even fewer expectations.
To many, it felt like a quiet exit, not the start of a comeback. But beneath the surface, it was a fresh start – a chance to reset far away from the noise of Manchester.
In Seville, there were no heavy price tags, no overwhelming pressure, no tabloids chasing every touch. Just football. And slowly, something began to shift.
Betis were also in trouble when Antony arrived, having won only two of their last ten La Liga games and suffered a 5–1 Copa del Rey exit at the hands of Barcelona.
But in his first game for the Andalusian side, Antony pulled the strings, earning Real Betis a draw – and a Man of the Match performance on debut.
In hindsight, the applause he received that night may have been the spark that reignited his confidence – and his magic touch.
He followed it up with another standout display in a narrow 3–2 loss to Celta Vigo, getting on the scoresheet himself. From there, his performances steadily gained momentum.
As the season wore on, Antony’s influence grew – and so did Betis’ belief.
Before his arrival, Betis had played 21 games, suffered seven losses, and sat 10th in La Liga with just 28 points – well outside European contention. But everything shifted after his arrival.
In the 17 matches he featured in, Betis won nine and lost only three, a surge that propelled them into a Europa League spot by season’s end.
During that stretch, they stunned Real Madrid and held a high-flying Barcelona to a draw – results that carried serious weight.
In both fixtures, Antony’s presence was impossible to ignore. He wasn’t just along for the ride – he was a pivotal influence.
European Redemption: Conference League Heroics
Perhaps his most defining influence came not in La Liga but in Europe.
In the UEFA Conference League semi-final against Fiorentina, Antony delivered when it mattered most.
Over two legs of a fiercely contested tie, he contributed two goals and an assist, directly involved in three of Real Betis’ four goals in their dramatic 4–3 aggregate victory.
It was a performance that electrified the away stands of Stadio Artemio Franchi and gave the fans something they hadn’t felt in years – the chance to dream.
For a club steeped in history but starved of silverware, reaching the final felt monumental. And a key part of it was a player many had written off just months earlier.
In the end, the fairytale didn’t end with silverware.
Real Betis fell short in the UEFA Conference League final, but that disappointment couldn’t erase what had been rekindled along the way. For the first time in years, Betis fans dared to dream of Europe, of glory, of unforgettable nights.
And that, in itself, was a victory.
Antony may not have lifted the trophy, but he helped breathe life back into the club’s belief. His flair, his fight, and his fire became a symbol of possibility.
He’ll look back with pride – not just for rediscovering himself, but for being part of a team that gave Betis fans a reason to hope again.
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Antony’s Future: United, Betis, or Beyond?
Now, with his loan spell complete, Antony returns to Manchester United – not just with improved form, but with renewed purpose. Yet, uncertainty surrounds what comes next.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future. Only God knows,” he admitted.
The Brazilian has expressed affection for Betis, a club he now calls family: “My work is playing, and I’m doing that well.”
“I have a lot of affection for Betis, for everyone, but I have a contract with Manchester United and I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The crossroads are clear. A return to Betis – a club that embraced him – feels emotionally fitting but financially uncertain. Staying at United, on the other hand, offers the chance to complete a redemption arc where it all began.
After a turbulent season at Old Trafford, could Antony now be part of a new beginning? Could he finally prove his worth and fulfil the promise many once saw in him?
Wherever the road leads, one thing is certain: this version of Antony is no longer the lost figure haunted by price tags and pressure.
He’s a player reborn – carrying hope for himself, and perhaps for whichever club dares to believe in him next.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date: 01.05.2025