Manchester United are on the brink of their first departure of the summer window, with reports from Spain claiming Atletico Madrid are close to wrapping up a deal for Brazilian winger Antony.
The 24-year-old was shipped out to Real Betis on loan in January after falling out of favour at Old Trafford, having failed to start a single Premier League match this season. Despite his hefty £87 million price tag when he joined from Ajax in 2022, Antony has struggled to justify the outlay, returning just five league goals and three assists in 62 appearances.
However, his time in La Liga has sparked something of a revival. The Brazilian has netted six times and provided two assists in 19 outings for Betis, prompting the Andalusian side to explore a permanent move this summer.
But Atletico Madrid have swooped in ahead of the queue. Spanish media report that Diego Simeone’s side are ‘very close’ to sealing a transfer, having tabled a €40 million offer for Antony’s services—an offer that United are said to welcome as they look to recoup part of their original investment.
While Betis had been keen to strike a deal at season’s end, their hopes have been dashed by Atletico’s financial muscle. Simeone, reportedly impressed by Antony’s resurgence, is eager to inject pace and directness into his squad ahead of a fresh push in La Liga and the Champions League.
Sources close to the negotiations suggest the deal is advancing swiftly, with both clubs keen to finalise terms in the coming weeks. Betis, for their part, are unable to match Atletico’s bid and now look set to miss out on retaining the winger, despite their strong rapport with both the player and United.
Atletico view Antony as a marquee addition for the 2025/26 campaign, with his arrival tipped to be one of the first major moves of what promises to be a busy summer at the Metropolitano.
Speaking recently, former United coach Rene Meulensteen poured cold water on any talk of Antony returning to Manchester, saying:
“Antony has no future at United. He’s found happiness at Betis and looks far more settled in Spain. If I were him, I’d stay put. Going back to Old Trafford would only see him slip into old habits.”
It now appears increasingly likely that Antony’s brief and underwhelming United chapter will be closed for good—though not, perhaps, in the way many envisioned when he made his much-hyped arrival.
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