Real Betis remain determined to bring back Antony after his impressive loan stint, but Manchester United’s insistence on a permanent deal could block the move.
The Brazilian winger played a key role for Betis in the second half of last season, scoring nine goals in 25 games and helping the club reach the Europa Conference League final.
Despite his desire to stay in Spain, Antony’s return to Betis is far from straightforward. Sporting director Manu Fajardo acknowledged the operation’s complexity, noting that while they’re eager to re-sign him, finances could be a stumbling block.
United want to sell the winger permanently this summer and are asking for around £32.58 million to comply with profit and sustainability rules, having signed him from Ajax for a significantly higher fee.
Softfootball gathered that Betis haven’t made a £20 million-plus signing in over six years, but could generate funds from the expected sale of midfielder Johnny Cardoso to Atletico Madrid. This potential transfer could help them meet United’s valuation or structure a more creative deal to secure Antony’s services.
The 25-year-old, who earns £150,000-a-week, is reportedly willing to take a 30% wage cut to push the move through. However, Manchester United’s firm stance on not sanctioning another loan remains an obstacle.
Fajardo praised Antony’s commitment and acknowledged the player’s public desire to return. He credited Betis’ environment and infrastructure for the player’s transformation, emphasizing the collaborative effort behind Antony’s strong performance last season.
Softfootball has earlier reported Antony’s willingness to accept a 30% wage cut from his current £150,000-per-week salary to make a permanent move to Betis viable. If Betis do push through a deal, it would rival the club’s record transfer — the 1998 signing of Denílson from São Paulo for £21.5m, which was a world record fee at the time.
As the summer window unfolds, Betis are expected to keep exploring options—financial or creative—to bring the Brazilian attacker back, while United remain focused on offloading him permanently under new manager Ruben Amorim.