MU should look at Antony with a more sober eye than ever

Antony is exploding at Real Betis.

It's not just the bad deals or the waste of budget, but also the way the "Red Devils" approach players - both emotional and lacking long-term vision. In a series of "forgettable" deals, the name Antony always stands out. 85 million pounds - a huge number, great expectations - but what is the return?

A skilled but uninspired winger, dull under the pressure of the Premier League, and often criticised for his flashy, ineffective style of play. Now, as he leaves Old Trafford and joins Real Betis, Antony's name is back in the headlines, but in a more... ironic way than a proud one.

Old people, new land and spectacular transformation

Antony found new ground in La Liga - where softness and creativity in the way he played football were more appreciated than physicality and speed. Right from the first matches in the Real Betis shirt, the Brazilian player seemed to be "revived". He shone in technical handling, constantly creating breakthroughs and even being the leader in many Betis attacks.

Not only did he receive recognition from Spanish fans and media, but also coach Manuel Pellegrini - a man with extensive experience in Europe - did not spare praise. He described Antony as a "very special" player, who came to Betis with a clear determination and a highly professional attitude.

“Antony didn’t come here for a holiday,” Pellegrini said. “He came with a goal and he’s working on it day by day. He brings a difference that not every player has.”

La Liga environment suits Antony better.

However, Pellegrini’s “winged” compliment also contained a gentle jab. He mentioned the £85 million Man Utd spent to recruit Antony from Ajax – as if to imply that, if Antony was truly “very special”, then the price was reasonable. But if that was the case, why did Man Utd let him go in disappointment?

That is where Ineos - the group that is taking over Man Utd's sporting machine - needs to be very careful. They are faced with a key choice: sell Antony while he is valuable, or continue to bet on a player who has failed to adapt to the Premier League?

Form in La Liga does not guarantee success in the Premier League

The question is: can Antony’s explosive La Liga performance translate back to England? The answer was partly revealed by coach Ruben Amorim himself when he said that not everyone who plays well in Portugal or Spain will shine in England. This statement, although not directly aimed at Antony, was enough to make the player’s agent unhappy.

Antony is more of a showman than a performer, and that’s where he struggled in the Premier League – where speed of decision-making and stamina are critical. At Betis, Antony has more space to play, less to be marked, and a possession-based system that allows him to thrive.

Antony's future is uncertain.

In the world of football, sometimes a player’s value is not in form, but in timing. For Antony, the time to sell is now - when he is shining in a major tournament, being hailed by the media, and receiving praise from a prestigious coach. Man Utd can now negotiate from a position of strength - no longer a team “being forced to pay” because of a player’s loss of form.

The lesson from Jesse Lingard is still valid. After an impressive loan spell at West Ham, Man Utd decided to keep him with the hope of “starting over”. But in the end, Lingard could not regain that form at Old Trafford and left quietly, bringing no money to the team. Perhaps, MU will not let that scenario repeat itself with Antony.

Man Utd under Ineos are facing a number of important decisions, and Antony's future is one of them. Selling him is not a loss of potential, but a wise choice to maximise the value of investment - something the previous management has repeatedly failed to do.

Antony may have been “very special” to Pellegrini, but at Old Trafford, he was never “special”. And that was enough to say goodbye while the time was still good.

Source: https://znews.vn/mu-nen-nhin-antony-bang-con-mat-tinh-tao-hon-bao-gio-het-post1542044.html