Thriving at Real Betis, Antony revealed the surprising reason behind his struggles at Manchester United.
Since joining Real Betis in January, Antony has rediscovered his form, helping the Spanish side thrive both in La Liga and Europe. Reflecting on his struggles at Manchester United, the Brazilian winger revealed an unexpected reason behind his underwhelming performances in England.
Following Ruben Amorim’s arrival in November, Antony struggled to secure a spot in Manchester United’s plans. As a result, both the player and the club agreed to pursue a loan move until the end of the season. The forward landed at Real Betis, where he’s now delivering a level of consistency rarely seen during his time at Old Trafford.
Betis faced Leganes on Sunday in La Liga and pulled off an impressive 3-2 comeback after trailing 2-0. After the match, Antony reflected on his great moment at Spain, crediting his resurgence to a surprising factor.
“The city (Seville) has influenced me a lot; it’s better than Manchester. I’m very happy here because of that. The sun here helps a lot. Every day at noon, I’m awake, listening to myself, I go to sleep smiling, and that’s the most important thing for me,” Antony told Spanish television.
Manchester United spent almost $100 million to sign Antony from Ajax, but struggled to adapt to the league, and also to the cold weather in England. Now at Betis, he seems to be enjoying a complete different context, shining as bright as the sun in Spain.
Antony’s impact at Real Betis
Whether it’s the weather or a fresh start, Antony’s arrival has undoubtedly sparked a turnaround at Real Betis. Since his arrival in January, the club has emerged as one of the most in-form teams in Spain.
Before Antony’s signing, Betis sat 10th in La Liga, far from the European qualification spots. Since February, the team has earned 16 points in seven games — the second-best tally in the league during that span, only trailing Barcelona, who have won all six of their matches.
Antony’s influence has extended to Europe as well. In the UEFA Conference League, Betis defeated KAA Gent 3-1 on aggregate in the playoff round and followed that up with a dominant 6-2 aggregate victory over Vitoria Guimaraes in the Round of 16. With 4 goals and 4 assists in 11 appearances, Antony has played a pivotal role in Betis’ resurgence, reigniting their Champions League hopes.
