Manchester United Slashes Antony's Price Tag as Transfer Saga Hits New Snags
Reports suggest Manchester United have reduced their valuation for Antony, though a permanent move to Real Betis after his impressive loan spell remains uncertain.
Having lost his place under Erik ten Hag and unable to regain it when Ruben Amorim took charge at Old Trafford, Antony revitalized his career during an outstanding period at Betis. His contribution of 14 goals and assists in just six months made a significant impact.
Antony—alongside Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia—has been given additional time to secure a new destination before being required to return for pre-season training in Manchester. However, several obstacles remain to be overcome.
The Red Devils have reportedly reduced their valuation of their second-costliest acquisition to approximately €35 million (£30.2 million, $41.2 million), as reported by SPORT. Nevertheless, the deal remains "more complicated than ever" due to Betis' inability to meet Antony's current salary demands.
Given La Liga's stringent wage restrictions and financial regulations, which Barcelona also struggle with, Betis are understandably cautious about exceeding their budget.
As Betis chairman Ángel Haro recently indicated, Antony would need to accept a substantial pay reduction for the move to materialize.
"We're in discussions with the player because joining Betis requires a significant wage decrease, as we must maintain our financial responsibility and avoid compromising it," Haro explained to COPE.
"He's an exceptional talent. He's contributed tremendously over the past six months, but we need to ensure everything aligns properly...we cannot act recklessly. We're pursuing this carefully because it's challenging. We're creative in structuring these types of deals, but it's complicated. It involves the player, who has affection for Betis, but he must also consider his personal situation."
Securing a transfer fee appears more feasible following some profitable player departures; Jesús Rodríguez has moved to Como while Johnny Cardoso is set to join Atlético Madrid. A potential arrangement could see Betis propose €20 million (£17.3 million, $23.6 million) for a loan with mandatory purchase clause, plus guaranteeing Manchester United up to 30% of any future transfer.
The English club has not yet received any concrete proposals, but Antony is anticipated to advocate for consideration of Betis' offer should it materialize.