Man United forward confirms he almost joined Bayern Munich this summer | OneFootball

Antony turns down Bayern Munich as Betis win transfer race

Betis secure permanent deal for Brazilian winger

According to The Mirror, Manchester United’s long-running saga with Antony finally reached its conclusion on deadline day as the Brazilian sealed a permanent move to Real Betis. After months of speculation and negotiation, Betis agreed a £21 million deal to bring him back to Spain. Yet what emerged afterwards was a story of offers and temptation, with Antony himself revealing that Bayern Munich were among the clubs that tried to lure him away.

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Antony’s revelation about Bayern Munich interest

In an interview with El Partidazo, Antony said: “I spoke with Bayern Munich. I don’t know if it was [a] €7 million [offer], but I said I had Betis’s word and that it was 95% certain and that I would respect my word. I feel comfortable making this decision because I’m very happy here. More than five teams called me.” It is a remarkable detail. For a player widely dismissed in England, to attract attention from a Champions League heavyweight underlines the contradictions of his career so far.

Emotional unveiling in Seville

The Brazilian’s unveiling at Betis was deeply emotional. He admitted: “[Making the transfer happen] was very hard, but we’re here now. I can’t wait to wear the Betis shirt again. I can only thank everyone who made it possible.” His voice cracked as he added: “What a difference! Seville is more beautiful than Manchester. I’m finally here. I spent more than 40 days in a hotel; it was very hard, but everyone knew I wanted to return to Betis.”

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There was also a glimpse of the affection that has defined his second spell in Spain. “I had trouble sleeping after seeing so much love from the Betis fans; there were people waiting at my house at 2 in the morning,” he said. “Being cared about is very important to me, it is something money can’t buy. Here, I have had good feelings and felt lots of affection. It was always my first choice, and that’s why I waited until the last day to return to Betis.”

Wider context of Bayern’s summer window

While Bayern did not sign Antony, their summer was hardly quiet. They brought in Luis Diaz from Liverpool and finalised a loan move for Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, a deal that came after late uncertainty following Liam Delap’s injury. The German champions may not have landed Antony, but their interest lingers as another thread in a window defined by restless ambition.

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To hear a player who failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford openly compare Manchester unfavourably with Seville, and to talk about affection being “something money can’t buy”, feels like a reminder of how distant his relationship with United supporters had become. Fans wanted effort, end product and reliability. Too often, they saw inconsistency and frustration.

The idea that Bayern Munich spoke with him is jarring. On one hand, it suggests his reputation abroad has not suffered as badly as in England. On the other, it raises the question of why he could not replicate that faith in Manchester. For United fans, the answer probably lies in the culture clash, the lack of confidence and the constant scrutiny that never allowed him to breathe.

At Betis, Antony seems liberated. He is back in surroundings where the crowd’s warmth makes him feel valued, and he thrives on that. It says much about his character: he needs that environment to play his best football. For United supporters, though, the whole episode feels like closure. They can move on, focus on a squad rebuild and leave behind a signing that symbolised so many of the club’s missteps in the market.