Antony’s Resurgence at Real Betis
Antony’s spell at Manchester United was poor, to say the least, as he scored nine goals along with three assists across all competitions over three years. He was ridiculed by the press and was often poked fun at online during this time as the $97.3 million price tag brought lots of expectations. It was clear Antony needed a change of scenery, and during this recent January transfer window, he got just that, as he was loaned out to La Liga side Real Betis. While it’s only been four games, Antony has shown glimpses of the old Brazilian winger that was so highly touted at Ajax.
In his first four matches, Antony has three goals along with an assist. If he keeps producing at this rate, he’ll match his Manchester United tally in no time. His time at Manchester United was odd; he often looked lost on the pitch and seemed to forget how to play soccer. It made no sense because, at Ajax, Antony shined, showing off his Brazilian flair while also producing scoring chances for his side. To be bought for almost $100 million, you must have talent, and it seemed to be all sucked out of him. However, that looks different now, and we are witnessing a rebirth of the young Brazilian winger. His transfer value has dwindled to $23 million, but Antony looks to change that as today he scored an incredible volley with a match rating 9.1 and earned player of the match. The talent is still there; now Antony has to be able to put together performances consistently, as he did today.
Manchester United has had their struggles recently, and it’s entirely fair to put a majority of the blame on the club for Antony’s struggles. They have ruined several young talents recently, and the club has seemingly no direction. Antony was a byproduct of United’s poor management, and this recent spell of matches has shown that to be true. He still has an exciting future ahead of him, as he’s only 24 years old and possesses skills only a few footballers have. Antony has an opportunity to change the negative sentiment towards him and show the world that the $97.3 million price tag wasn’t a fluke.
