Antony's "Crazy" Comment Jeopardizes Manchester United's Transfer Plans

Manchester United have been cautioned by Real Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo that the Spanish club will not spend an excessive sum to acquire Antony, which could potentially impact the club's financial stability.

Betis decided to take a risk on Antony in the latter part of the previous season, bringing in the Brazilian forward on a temporary deal following his disappointing stint of two and a half years at Old Trafford, and their gamble paid off immediately as he contributed nine goals and five assists.

The temporary arrangement did not contain a clause for a permanent move, however United are eager to offload the player and are believed to be seeking approximately £35 million ($48 million). This valuation has thus far been considered too steep for Betis.

While discussions continue privately, Antony has reportedly turned down other offers to prioritize a potential move to Betis, though Fajardo has admitted that reaching an agreement is not certain.

"Everyone needs to understand that this is an extremely complicated transaction," he stated. "Considering the player's quality and his recent performance at Real Betis, this won't be a straightforward deal.

"Even though it's a challenging transaction, we will attempt to complete it through various methods without compromising the club's future. Ultimately, what matters most is the organization's long-term viability. We will strive to be innovative, just as we have been previously, to ensure Antony can join us. Currently the transfer window remains active, as I mentioned earlier, it's extremely fluid and we are participants in this process."

Club chairman Ángel Haro has also cautioned United that Betis will not act recklessly in their efforts to secure Antony's return.

"We must maintain the same financial discipline we have upheld until now," Haro stated. "Sporting stability is crucial for us, naturally, but financial stability is equally important.

"We will not act irresponsibly; we will maintain similar squad investment levels, possibly slightly increased from last season, and we will be capable of making some notable acquisitions. However, what has distinguished Betis in recent years is our ability to sell effectively, and we also purchase wisely at reasonable prices."