Manchester United’s Antony impressed while on loan at Real Betis in the second half of last season and his form convinced the La Liga club to retain him.
Last week, Real Betis CEO Ramón Alarcón and sporting director, Manu Fajardo, travelled to England to hold talks with Manchester United. The Spanish media asked Alarcón about the trip, but he refused to share details of discussions with the Red Devils.
Monday’s ABC Sevilla reports Real Betis are optimistic of retaining the winger after their trip to the UK last week.
They are looking to either buy a percentage of his rights this summer or sign him on a season-long loan deal with an obligation to buy. For both formulas, they want the fixed fee to be low and would offer a high sell-on clause to Manchester United.
Real Betis have proposed co-ownership, considering they won’t be able to meet the Red Devils’ request to buy him.
The La Liga club used this formula to buy Abde Ezzalzouli from Barcelona for €7.5m in 2023, with the latter to receive 50% of a future sale. They want to repeat it to secure the Brazil international’s services.
ABC state Manuel Pellegrini’s side are thinking about offering €20m to Manchester United, payable either this summer, or via an initial loan with the obligation kicking in next summer.
They say it’s a win-win for both clubs as Manchester United can earn more from a future sale. At the same time, it allows Real Betis to invest a small amount up front to buy him.
Diario de Sevilla, another newspaper local to Real Betis, also report about the co-ownership plan to take the 25-year-old.
After last week’s meeting, the newspaper says: ‘There seems to be a sense among both sides that they are destined to come to an understanding.’
The Spanish club have tabled a €15m bid and will increase it to just over €20m with a high sell-on clause. Rubem Amorim’s side, on the other hand, ‘remain firm on a higher amount’.
To sum it up, Real Betis want Antony for around €20m and will offer Manchester United a high percentage on a future sale. The likelihood would be the Red Devils being due something like 50% of a future transfer fee.
It sounds like a terrible deal for Manchester United and will surely be laughed out of town.
