Betis are keen on retaining the Brazil international for at least another season, but finances will make a deal difficult to do
Antony has said goodbye to Real Betis in a deeply emotional message, following the end of his loan spell at the La Liga club.
The Brazilian winger arrived Betis from Manchester United in January as a figure under pressure and out of confidence, but he has since reignited his career, racking up nine goals and five assists across all competitions in just five months. His efforts led Betis to a sixth-place La Liga finish and an unlikely run to the UEFA Conference League final, where they fell short against Chelsea.
In a social media post, the 25-year-old thanked Betis and their fans for giving him back his passion and “reminding me why I fell in love with this game”.
“Today is the day to give thanks for one of the most beautiful chapters of my life,” he wrote. “And as I write this page of my story, I need to say why you were and always will be so special to me.
“From a young age, football was not just a dream or my only chance to change my life, as so many say out there. For me it was more than that. It was my joy. While many saw football as a way out, I saw football as a way in. The only place where I felt complete.
“I counted the minutes to run after the ball. Playing wasn’t an escape, it was a destiny. It was pure happiness. Life took me far away, from the favela to the world. I left Brazil, I played in Holland, I played in England. I stopped being just a kid and became a father. Many things changed.
“But football, football was always there. It was always my refuge. Until one day, everything fell apart. From heaven to hell. The ball stopped going in, the joy disappeared, my world darkened, and I began to doubt myself. My talent and my passion for football. That’s when football gave me one last gift. You.
“When I arrived here, I didn’t know what to expect. But even in my wildest dreams, I imagined finding what I found. From my first step at this club, I felt something different. It was like coming home, like finding a part of me I thought was lost.
“With you, I smiled again. With you, I found the child I was before. The one who loved football with all his heart. With you, football became love again. True love.
“Thank you for welcoming me like one of the family. Thank you for giving me back the joy of playing football. And thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with this game. My home, my people, always so much Betis.”
What next for Antony?
Betis are keen on retaining the Brazil international for at least another season. They are preparing to meet with Manchester United to discuss a new deal, likely a second loan with a larger share of Antony’s wages covered, according to Estadio Deportivo. However, United are under financial pressure and would not want any deal that involves them continuing to pay part of Antony’s wages. They would prefer a sale.
Antony is still contracted at Old Trafford until 2027. Unless a deal is struck beforehand, he will return to United for pre-season later in the summer.
