Antony: Real Betis reach “agreement in principle” to sign United winger | OneFootball

Real Betis have reached an “agreement in principle” with Manchester United to sign Antony, according to a report.

Mike McGrath (The Daily Telegraph) reveals the Spanish side have struck a deal which will see Antony return to Seville after an impressive loan spell last season.

Tweet: “Agreement in principle for Antony to return to Real Betis, according to Spanish sources. Talks have been over a deal where the 25yo Brazil forward to eventually move permanently after initial loan.”

A Spanish Renaissance

Antony joined the Betis in the January transfer window after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim.

But where the Theatre of Dreams had proven more of a nightmare for the Brazilian winger following his £81 million move from Ajax in 2022, Spain offered a refuge.

Antony immediately established himself as a key part of Manuel Pellegrini’s side, going from strength to strength as the second half of the campaign progressed.

He finished the season with nine goals and five assists in 26 appearances for the Heliopolitanos, propelling his adopted side to sixth in La Liga, securing Europa League football in the process, and the final of the Europa Conference League – Betis’ first European final in their history.

Betis were desperate for Antony to remain at the Villamarin Stadium beyond his loan, but United were adamant they wanted to sell the 25-year-old winger permanently, with his remaining book value at Old Trafford set at £32.5 million.

This price was beyond Betis’ financial capability, however, and the Red Devils actively looked for other suitors for Antony. But the former Ajax star was intent on remaining with Betis this summer with one eye on the World Cup next year after he made a return to the Brazil national team while in Seville.

This has led Betis to remain locked in talks with United with the Liga side believing Antony’s commitment to returning would eventually force United’s hand in negotiations.

A Breakthrough

It has proved a wily decision by Betis with McGrath relaying that an “agreement in principle” for Antony to re-join Betis has been struck according to sources in Spain.

The point of contention in talks between the two clubs appears to have centred around “where the 25yo Brazil forward [would] eventually move permanently after initial loan,” suggesting this is likely to be a loan with an option or obligation to buy clause.

If United had sold Antony for a fee less than £32.5m this summer, his transfer would have incurred a negative PSR hit on the club’s finances.

A loan arrangement allows for a temporary boost financially, through wages saved and a potential fee, with Antony’s book value decreasing by next summer, potentially to a point where Betis would be able to match the price more easily.

As a member of Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’, the club were desperate to shift Antony; the manager had no interest in reintegrating him; and the player himself was intent on returning to Spain.

While United may not have agreed the permanent exit they had hoped, something is better than nothing at this late stage of the summer window.

Featured image Octavio Passos via Getty Images

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