How Real Betis plan to sign former loan star Antony from Manchester United

Real Betis will not pay over the odds to sign former loan star Antony permanently despite the Brazilian's "burning desire" to return to Spain.

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• Antony starred for Betis on loan
• United keen to recoup transfer fee
• Brazilian has no future at Old Trafford

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Antony is one of five United players who have told the Red Devils they want to leave permanently this summer. The Brazilian secured a loan exit in January and hit an incredible run of form for Betis, scoring nine goals and supplying five assists in 26 matches for the Spanish side.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While Antony is "burning with desire" to return to Betis, there is currently nothing agreed with United regarding a permanent transfer according to . The La Liga outfit plan to drag the saga into the late stages of the summer and want to buy a percentage of Antony's rights before the move becomes permanent next year.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Antony cost United £85 million (€98.6 million/$116 million) in 2022 and the Premier League team want to recoup some of that fee, though whether Betis can come remotely close to that figure remains to be seen. The 25-year-old will also need to take a significant hit on his wages to get a transfer over the line.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?

  This transfer may well take most of the summer to complete, but Antony is likely to have other suitors if Betis are unable to secure the deal they want. Serie A side Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, are also thought to have thrown their hat into the ring for the former Ajax winger.