Manchester United transfer news: Real Betis chief makes Antony claim ahead of summer window

After largely struggling during his first two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, the decision was made for the winger to leave on loan in January.

The Brazil international had failed to impress Ruben Amorim during his opening stint in charge, but it is plausible that the Portuguese may now have a different opinion.

A total of three goals and two assists have come from Antony's first seven games in a Betis shirt, the 25-year-old also completing the 90 minutes in last weekend's 2-1 victory over Real Madrid.

However, with the two teams having only agreed to a straight loan with United covering a large portion of the player's wages, Antony is in line to return to the Theatre of Dreams at the end of the season.

Betis chief makes Antony claim

As it stands, United can only be satisfied that Antony is making a positive impact in La Liga given that it was recently unrealistic to expect any club to make a suitable permanent offer for someone that cost £84m.

Betis do not possess the financial firepower to facilitate such a permanent deal at this stage, but it appears that Antony is eager to continue his time at Estadio Benito Villamarin.

According to CEO Ramon Alarcon, the former Ajax star is of the opinion that he wishes to remain at Betis until at least the end of next season.

Speaking to Canal Sur's El Pelotazo show, Alarcon said: "The other day Antony told me that he wanted to stay another year.

"The player is very comfortable here and was surprised by the facilities we gave him to settle in the city as soon as he arrived."

Is a second loan realistic?

In the summer, Antony will be at a stage where he has two years remaining on his contract, leaving United with minimal opportunities to generate a suitable fee for his signature.

From an amortisation standpoint, United would need to receive in the region of £34m to break even on Antony with regards to the relevant financial regulations.

As it stands, that remains highly unlikely, but Betis could substantially bolster their coffers if they win the Conference League to secure qualification for next season's Europa League.

That said, a second loan with more favourable terms for United may suit all parties, particularly if Betis pay a larger chunk of Antony's wages.

Written by

Darren Plant