Manchester United gained an advantage in their efforts to offload Antony this month after the winger reportedly weakened his leverage during contract discussions with the club in 2022. Antony has joined Real Betis on loan after failing to meet expectations following his £86million move from Ajax.
The 24-year-old endured a tough time at Old Trafford after completing that lucrative move two-and-a-half years ago. He struggled under Erik ten Hag and failed to win the trust of Ruben Amorim following the Portuguese coach’s appointment in November.
United identified Antony as a player who could be shifted to raise vital funds for a squad overhaul. Amorim desperately needs new signings before the February 3 deadline but United have been squeezed by their financial situation.
The Red Devils agreed a deal for him to join Real Betis on loan until the end of the season. It is widely reported that the Spanish side will pay 84 per cent of his salary, which is believed to be over £100,000 per week.
But United might have had more trouble ridding Antony from their wage bill had the Brazilian not made a crucial mistake during negotiations with the club in 2022. When the final details of his blockbuster move from Ajax were being thrashed out that summer, his representatives reportedly demanded £250,000 per week.
The salary would not have been out of the ordinary for a player moving for such a seismic fee. However, The Athletic reports that United had the upper hand in those talks as Antony had been desperate to join the club.
He had been so keen to complete a move that he reportedly stopped turning up for training at Ajax and told the Dutch club that he wanted the deal to happen. United therefore managed to negotiate a much smaller salary that has subsequently allowed them to offload him with relative ease.
Amorim will be hoping that some of that money can go towards a splurge of new signings over the next week. The 40-year-old has several holes in his squad that need filling. The Red Devils are hoping to climb into the top half of the Premier League.
According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the final details of a transfer for Lecce wing-back Patrick Dorgu are being completed. An initial £24m fee has been agreed for the Denmark international, 20. He could become Amorim’s first signing as United boss.
