Betis withdraw offer for Antony despite Manchester United claims

Uncertainty surrounds Antony’s future after Real Betis announced they had withdrawn their offer for the Manchester United winger, despite sources at Old Trafford insisting a deal had been accepted, Sport360NG reports.

United and Betis have been in discussions throughout the summer but were unable to settle on a transfer fee for the 25-year-old. Antony spent the second half of last season on loan at the Spanish club, where he scored nine goals and played a key role in their sixth-place finish and run to the Europa Conference League final.

The Brazilian was one of five players excluded from Erik ten Hag’s successor Ruben Amorim’s pre-season plans, training separately from the first-team group at Carrington. Reports had linked him with clubs in Saudi Arabia, but his preference was always a return to Betis.

By Friday, United insiders suggested the two clubs had reached an agreement that would allow Antony to travel for a medical in Seville. However, Betis officials disputed that version before issuing a statement:
“Betis has withdrawn its offer. The club cannot afford either a transfer fee or the player’s wage demands.”

It is believed one sticking point relates to outstanding salary payments on Antony’s current United contract, which runs until 2027. It remains unclear whether further negotiations will take place before the transfer deadlines, 19:00 BST on Monday in England, and nearly four hours later in Spain.

Antony’s future at United has looked bleak all summer. He was part of the so-called “bomb squad”, along with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia, forced to train at separate times from the first team. Rashford has since joined Barcelona on loan, while Garnacho is on the verge of sealing a £40m move to Chelsea.

A permanent exit would bring an underwhelming chapter at United to an end. Signed from Ajax for £81.3m in 2022, then the club’s second most expensive transfer after Paul Pogba, Antony failed to deliver consistently. His final Premier League start came in the 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in May 2024, while his last league goal was scored against Burnley a week earlier.

Reflecting on his loan spell in Spain, Antony told TNT Sports Brazil he had “found happiness again” at Betis after a difficult period in Manchester that had also impacted his family life.