Following the disastrous breakdown of his proposed move from Manchester United to Real Betis, Antony has spoken out. Even though the Red Devils had agreed on conditions, the La Liga team announced in a statement on Friday that it was withdrawing out of the deal.
The Brazilian winger, who enjoyed a loan stint at Betis last season, has been settled for a cost of £21.6 million. Although the club would have received 50% of any profit from Betis in a future sale of the 25-year-old, a further £2.6 million was due in add-ons, with United prepared to sustain a £60 million hit on the former Ajax prodigy. But problems continued.
With two years remaining on his Old Trafford contract, Antony commands a sizeable salary that he is unwilling to forgo.
Both United and Betis were unwilling to make up the difference, and Antony is reportedly hesitant to give up his possible income.
Betis released a statement late on Friday saying: “There is no agreement and we have withdrawn the transfer offer because Real Betis can’t afford the transfer fee and the amounts that Manchester United must [instead] pay the player before the transfer.”
The Seville club’s stance is only a negotiation tactic, according to United’s managers.
Antony, for his part, seems unconcerned by the circumstances.
The winger posted a story on Instagram with a picture of himself and his friends at what appears to be a restaurant.
Antony’s article came with a thought-provoking message.
“Among family and friends, life always has a big surprise in store for us,” he wrote. During the winter transfer window, Antony joined the Spanish team on loan, and he excelled while he was there.
The Brazil international seems to have developed a close bond with the team and led it to the UEFA Conference League final, where Chelsea defeated them.
This summer, he made a comeback to Manchester as a member of the team’s ‘bomb squad’. Along with Tyrell Malacia, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Jadon Sancho, Antony was excluded from first team practice.
Since then, Rashford has gone on loan to Barcelona, and Garnacho has been acquired by Chelsea for £40 million. With only a few days left in the transfer window, Antony now appears to be in the same precarious situation as the other two players.
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