At his unveiling ceremony in Seville on 2/9, with the sunny cityscape as a backdrop, Antony choked up several times, wiping away tears as he spoke about his journey from Old Trafford.
"Only I know how difficult things were in Manchester. Training alone... but that's life. I knew this day would come. Now, it's all in the past," the 25-year-old shared.
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Antony cries at his Real Betis presentation on 2/9. Photo: Betis |
Antony became a fan favorite during his loan spell at Betis in the latter half of the 2024-2025 season. The Brazilian forward scored 9 goals in 26 appearances, helping Betis finish sixth in La Liga and reach the Conference League final (where they lost 4-1 to Chelsea).
The affection from Betis fans motivated his return. "I stayed in a hotel for over 40 days. It was tough, but everyone knows I only wanted to come back to Betis," he expressed. "Sentiment is more important than money. This was always my first choice, and I waited until the last day to make it happen."
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Antony is welcomed by fans at his Real Betis presentation on 2/8. Photo: Betis |
Upon his return to Seville, Antony was surrounded by dozens of cheering fans who called him "Antonio de Triana," embracing him as one of their own. The Brazilian declared, "I've never felt this before. When I wear the Betis jersey, I'll run for every single fan."
Antony rose to prominence at Ajax before joining Manchester United for 103 million USD in the summer of 2022. However, he failed to meet expectations, scoring only 12 goals in 96 matches.
This summer, Manchester United accepted a significant loss, selling Antony to Betis for 29 million USD, with a 50% sell-on clause for any future transfer. Antony even took a 30% pay cut to facilitate the move.
Antony is among several forwards who departed Old Trafford this summer. Manchester United sent Marcus Rashford to Barcelona, Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli, and Jadon Sancho to Aston Villa on loan, while selling Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea.
Conversely, Manchester United spent over 250 million USD to acquire Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha.
Compiled by Hong Duy
