Antony's Betis Bump: £82m United Flop's Pubalgia Pains and Sub Bench Blues
Antony's £82m Manchester United move turned sour, leading to a loan and permanent switch to Real Betis, where he's notched 12 goals and 9 assists this season despite fitness woes. Manuel Pellegrini revealed pubalgia and recovery issues are limiting the Brazilian, after he was subbed early in a 0-0 Espanyol draw. United hold a 50% sell-on clause, keeping eyes on his revival.
Antony's Betis Bump: £82m United Flop's Pubalgia Pains and Sub Bench Blues
Picture this: Manchester United, desperate for some South American flair, fork out a whopping £82 million for Antony back in summer 2022. The Brazilian winger had been tearing it up at Ajax, bagging 12 goals and 10 assists in 33 games during the 2021/22 season. With Erik ten Hag jumping ship from Amsterdam to Old Trafford, it felt like a match made in football heaven. Or so we thought.
Old Trafford Nightmare: Hype to Hyped-Up Disappointment
Antony rolled into the Theatre of Dreams with sky-high expectations. Sure, his debut season had flashes – 10 goals and 5 assists in 47 appearances – but it was hardly the fireworks United splashed out for. The next year? Oof. Just 3 goals and 2 assists in 38 games, and he didn't even get a sniff in the FA Cup final win over City.
Ten Hag's October sacking piled on the misery. New gaffer Ruben Amorim wasn't sold, so off Antony went on loan to Real Betis in January 2025. The Seville side snapped him up permanently last summer, as originally reported by The Peoples Person. Blimey, from third-biggest United signing ever (behind Pogba and Lukaku) to La Liga loan life – talk about a fall from grace.
Seville Spark Fades: From Hero to Hooked Early
At Betis, Antony hit the ground running. He's notched an impressive 12 goals and 9 assists in 37 appearances across all comps this 2025/26 season. Started strong, dazzling with those trademark trivela crosses and flair. But lately? He's hit a wall, like a striker facing a parked bus.
Take Saturday's 0-0 draw with Espanyol. Antony started but got yanked at the 66th minute for academy kid Pablo Garcia. The youngster nearly nicked it, smashing the bar late on. Suddenly, that starting spot looks wobbly. Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini spilled the beans post-match, giving us the lowdown on our boy's woes.
Pellegrini's Pubalgia lowdown: Fitness Fiasco Explained
Chatting to GOAL, Pellegrini didn't mince words. "It's a bit of everything," he said. First up, physical niggles – Antony's not training daily. Then there's pubalgia (that's groin pain for us pub pundits), making full 90-minute shifts a no-go. It hampers recovery and leaves him sore for the next gig.
"We must handle him with kid gloves," Pellegrini added. Expects decisive moments, but right now, the lad's not match-fit for marathons. Fair play, 12 goals from a winger with baggage is solid – but if Garcia keeps knocking, Antony might warm the bench more.
United won't mind too much. They've got a cheeky 50% sell-on clause, so if Betis flip him or he reignites, the Red Devils cash in. Old Trafford suits will be glued to La Liga highlights, pint in hand, hoping their expensive experiment pays dividends down the line.
What a saga, eh? From Ajax ace to United punchbag, now Betis battler battling his body. Fancy a trivela wager on his next start? Cheers to The Peoples Person for the original scoop – keep it locked to TheFootball.News for more footy yarns.