'Every day I wake up with a smile' - Antony loving life after Manchester United

The Brazilian winger left Old Trafford for Real Betis on loan in January and has gotten off to a sublime start in Spain with three goals and an assist in four games.

He's now starting to look like the player Erik ten Hag paid £86million for, having been a complete flop since his signing in 2022.

Antony joins an increasing list of players to shine since leaving United, and his reasoning on why it's gone so well while speaking to AS.

"The most important thing is that I have found myself again," he began. "I am happy to be enjoying myself every day. Things go well when we are happy, content.

"I was playing little, but I have been working a lot. I needed to be happy with myself. The best version of being happy with myself is the most important thing.

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"I played very little in Manchester, but I am grateful to them and also to the coach, who spoke to me.

"I have also done very well in Manchester; I won two titles, and I am very grateful. But when I say that here, I have found myself, happiness, the people are like us in Brazil. The sun helps a lot.

"I am very happy here. Every day I wake up with a smile and that is very important."

Antony's debut 2022/23 season at United saw him record 11 goal involvements before five and then one in the next two campaigns.

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Yet he isn't completely shocked to already be on four in 2025.

"In four games I scored three goals and gave an assist," he continued. "I expected it and I didn't expect it. I have worked mentally and physically to get to this moment. I am very happy about that.

"When I was in England I continued working mentally and physically. I was also feeling well. I was preparing for this moment. Now, I am very happy to be enjoying and living an incredible moment."

The 24-year-old joins Napoli's Scott McTominay and Nottingham Forest Anthony Elanga in shining once leaving United, and Betis are feeling the benefit, now three points off LaLiga's European spots.

Explaining why he decided on the move, Antony added: "I have a lot of friends who played here and they left me feeling very calm so that I could sign here.

"I was sure in my heart that coming here was the best decision for me. I hope to continue like this.

"The players who have been here, like Ricardo Oliveira and Denilson, who sent me messages and told me how good the fans were."

He also credited manager Manuel Pellegrini, who won the Premier League with Manchester City in 2014.

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"The manager told me that I had scored against them and that now I had to score for them," he explained.

"The confidence he has given me is incredible and I am very grateful to him. I am very happy for the confidence they have given me, also the players like Isco or the captain [Marc] Bartra, who wrote to me before coming."