Benfica tried for Antony, Brazilian recalls: I couldn't stop crying | OneFootball

Benfica tried to sign Antony during the summer transfer window, according to the forward. However, the Brazilian ended up staying at Betis, although he was also approached by Bayern Munich. His performances in Spain led the winger back to the national team, something that made him cry with emotion.

"The [transfer] window closed the next day at seven or eight in the evening, if I'm not mistaken, or it was midnight. It was on the very last day, when things were progressing with Betis, that the call from Bayern Munich happened", he began by saying to Globo Esporte.

Antony was torn, considering the stature of the Germans: "I'll be honest, 100% now. It really made me waver. We're talking about a global giant, Bayern Munich, and the coach, Kompany, with his history, calls me. We had a conversation, he was super polite with me, said he always liked my football a lot, and this was at 11 at night, 11 and something...".

However, Antony had a commitment with the Sevillians: "This is a place where I am very happy, where I have the affection of everyone who welcomed me. The decision was also made by me, for being well, happy, and knowing how my day-to-day is here. And also because everything was already settled with the club, having given my word. Everything was agreed upon, I couldn't do this to myself or the club. The decision was very much a family one as well".

The forward linked to Benfica improved his performance significantly and ended up being called up to the national team, something that made him very happy: "For me, it was more emotional than the first call-up itself, I think because of the context of the things I went through. I was very moved there. I couldn't stop crying, I had to wait a little in the room before going down for dinner, because I had just arrived from Poland, and we would play the final"

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.