Antony has opened up about his relationship with Ruben Amorim and his time at Real Betis, revealing his true feelings as he continues to thrive in Spain. The Brazilian winger, who made the move to Betis on loan in January, has enjoyed a much-needed resurgence after a frustrating spell at Manchester United. In his first three months at Betis, Antony has found his rhythm, scoring four goals and contributing as many assists in just 16 appearances. His performances have caught the attention of both fans and coaches at the Spanish club, with the winger looking like a player reborn after struggling for form and consistency at Old Trafford.
Antony’s loan move to Real Betis was prompted by his lack of opportunities under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, where he had failed to secure a regular spot in the starting XI. Despite being the club’s second most expensive signing ever, following his £85 million transfer from Ajax in 2022, the Brazilian forward could not consistently impress in the United lineup. Over the course of 96 appearances for the Red Devils, Antony scored just 12 goals and registered 5 assists, a return that fell short of expectations.
Speaking about his relationship with Ruben Amorim, the coach who allowed him to join Betis on loan, Antony shared his respect for the Portuguese tactician. He acknowledged Amorim’s intelligence and coaching ability, praising him as a “very good” coach. Despite having worked with Amorim for only a short period, Antony expressed a strong sense of gratitude for the opportunity to play under him. “I’ve only had a short time working with Amorim, but he’s a very good coach. A very intelligent coach,” said Antony. “United are going through a difficult time at the moment, but he’s a good coach. I had a good relationship with him, but I needed a new challenge, and I wish him all the luck in the world in this final stretch of the season.”
Antony also spoke about his former manager at Ajax and Manchester United, Erik ten Hag, reflecting on their relationship and his time working with him. Despite not being able to secure a regular starting position at United, Antony made it clear that he harbored no ill feelings toward Ten Hag. “Erik ten Hag is a coach I’m very grateful to. He helped me a lot in the Netherlands, and in England too, even though the opportunities didn’t come the way I wanted,” Antony explained. “But that’s the coach’s choice; I don’t hold any grudges or anything. On the contrary, I’m very grateful for everything he’s done with me, for all the conversations too. He’s a coach who will certainly be in this story because he helped me a lot.”
Betis, who have been pleased with Antony’s contribution since his arrival, do not have an option to buy the player at the end of the season, meaning that his future at Manchester United remains uncertain. However, the Spanish club is covering 84% of his salary during his loan spell. As things stand, it remains unclear whether United will opt to sell Antony permanently this summer or whether he will return to Old Trafford to fight for his place under Ten Hag.
For now, Antony’s primary focus is on continuing his strong form at Betis, where he is enjoying more regular playing time and a newfound sense of confidence. His time in Spain is providing him with the chance to regain the level of performance that made him such a sought-after player at Ajax, and with each passing match, he looks more like the player United hoped they had signed. Whether this resurgence leads to a permanent exit from Manchester United is yet to be seen, but for now, Antony is relishing the challenge and the opportunity to prove his worth.
