Real Betis are continuing their efforts to try and sign Antony from Manchester United on a permanent basis, but are yet to settle on the terms of any deal.
That’s according to ABC Sevilla, who cover the situation today, which, it appears, is a bit of a mess for all involved.
They say that Betis have launched their bid to get the Brazilian from Manchester United, but the terms of the deal are yet to be fully worked out.
While there is an agreement that Anthony wants to return, they want him to return and Manchester United want rid, there has been little movement in the three weeks since the player’s agents travelled to Seville and then Ramón Alarcón, CEO of Betis, and Manu Fajardo, sporting director, travelled to London for talks.
Those in charge at Betis have regularly expressed optimism that they can get a deal done but the ‘framework’ for closing it still has ‘many loose ends’ that need to be worked out.
Everything is in order on the player’s side, and he’s made it clear to Manchester United he wants a return to the Spanish club. There are no issues on that front.
The current idea is another loan and a mandatory purchase in 2026, but the forward’s salary remains a problem. They need help from Manchester United on that front. another deal like the one struck in January would work and fit into their current wage cap.
Beyond that they need an agreement with the player and his agents. In reality, Antony needs to take a pay cut for them to be able to afford him fully and fit into the spending limit imposed by La Liga.
A deal with Manchester United is not done. The meeting in England set out the stalls and Betis learned first hand that United want to sell. Knowing that, Alarcón and Fajardo offered a loan with an obligation to buy in 2026. That would see them acquire a small percentage of the player’s rights at first and then gradually increase it based on time and performance.
It was seen as a win-win for both clubs and there is an understand in place for that joint ownership to be signed off. It is the amounts of that deal that now need to be negotiated.
So, to summarise, Betis are in agreement with Antony but need to work out how to afford his salary. They also have an agreement with Manchester United that would see them jointly own the forward but need to agree on the amounts involved in that operation as well.
Thus, the deal hasn’t moved in the last three weeks and could take another three to get anywhere, with it a complicated, convoluted web of agents, shared ownership and future payments that nobody seems entirely sure how to untangle fully.
Manchester United perhaps need to act firmer on this move with both Antony and Real Betis, because it certainly doesn’t look like the Spanish club are going to rush anything, seeming to prefer the idea and concept of signing the Brazilian, and the myriad of ways they may do so, rather than actually getting a deal done.
