One of the biggest transfer flops in football history has got his career back on track since moving to Spain during the January transfer window
Old Trafford has become something of a graveyard for exciting young talents in recent years – but plenty of players have been reborn after leaving Manchester United.
To name but three examples, Angel Gomes is expected to return to the Premier League this summer after breaking into the England squad during a very successful stint in France with Lille, Anthony Elanga has just helped Nottingham Forest qualify for continental competition for the first time in nearly two decades, while Scott McTominay is the new icon of the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona thanks to his MVP-winning heroics during Napoli's 2024-25 Serie A triumph.
However, Antony's revival ranks as the most surprising of all. Indeed, a nightmare spell at the 'Theatre of Dreams' appeared to have killed off any hope the Brazilian ever had of playing for another top European club. Now, though, he's back in the Brazil squad for the first time in two years and attracting interest from across the continent after resurrecting his career at Real Betis…
AFP'I had no fear'
Antony grew up in a favela in Brazil. He lived in poverty and was surrounded by violence. Football, though, offered an escape from the grim reality of daily life.
"I would elastico the drug dealers. Nutmeg the thieves. I really did not give a f*ck," he told . "With a ball at my feet, I had no fear."
Antony's upbringing sustained him through difficult times in his career. What he experienced at United was something different, though. Despite a promising start featuring three goals in his first three Premier League games, Antony struggled terribly to justify his £82 million ($111m) fee during his first season in England. Then, at the start of his second, he was accused of assault by three women, including an ex-girlfriend. No charges were ever brought against Antony but he said that his form was affected by the investigation, which concluded last August.
He also insisted that he had "learnt from it all" and that his third year at Old Trafford would be "totally different" to the previous two. "I've grown and matured," he told .
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Couldn't take it anymore'
However, by the middle of the 2024-25 campaign, it was clear that Antony's confidence was shot. During his childhood, there were times when he went hungry. But during his darkest days in Manchester, he couldn't even bring himself to eat. Or play with his son. Or even just leave his room.
"I even told my brother that I couldn't take it anymore," Antony revealed in an interview with. "But he told me to hold on a little longer, that things were going to change." And they have at Betis.
Getty Images SportTransfer masterstroke
There was very little interest in Antony's services during the January transfer window. Even Erik ten Hag, the coach who had helped turn him into a star at Ajax before bringing him with him to United, had lost faith in the winger before his own Old Trafford exit at the end of November.
Ten Hag's successor, Ruben Amorim, occasionally used him him a substitute during his first few months in charge, but it was clear that he didn't want Antony at all.
Betis did, though. Sporting director Manu Fajardo was in no doubt that Antony could get back to something resembling his best form in Andalusia. The only issue was the money.
Betis were not in a position to sign Antony on a permanent basis. Nor could they afford his salary. However, they managed to convince United to cover a significant chunk of his wages for the duration of a six-month stay at the Benito Villamarin. It's proven a masterstroke, with arguably the worst signing in United's history becoming one of the great January deals.
On fire
After impressing on his Betis debut on February 2, against Athletic Club, Antony opened his account for his new club just six days later. He struck again in the midweek win over Gent in the Conference League before making it three goals in a week with a beautiful volley against Real Sociedad. He's not really looked back since.
Going into Wednesday's Conference League final against Chelsea, Antony has been directly involved in 14 goals in all competitions – that's more than fellow wingers Khvicha Kvartskhelia and Vinicius Jr, as well as world-class strikers such as Robert Lewandowski, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland in the same time period.