One Manchester United misfit is poised to leave the club this summer despite the fact he has one trait Ruben Amorim could do with having around, says club legend Gary Pallister
Antony has been told his future will be best served away from Manchester United despite his resurgence on loan at Real Betis. However, Gary Pallister believes the Brazilian has at least one attribute Ruben Amorim would be better off keeping around.
The Manchester misfit’s tenacity could be something Sporting CP boss Amorim would appreciate if combined with more output on the field. Yet despite Antony’s efforts to reinvent himself during his loan spell in Spain, it appears it might not be sufficient to secure his career in England.
Red Devils legend Pallister has suggested the out-of-favour winger has fallen prey to his own playing style at United. When Antony was loaned out in the January transfer window, his £82million fee made him arguably one of the worst signings in United’s history.
Coming from Ajax on the back of Erik ten Hag’s recommendation in the summer of 2022, the player shouldered immense expectations. However, he only managed 17 direct goal contributions (12 goals and five assists) in 96 appearances for United before being shipped off to La Liga.
In stark contrast, he’s nearly matched those figures with eight goals and five assists in just 22 games for Betis. Despite his impressive stats abroad, Pallister has said it’s not Antony’s mental toughness that’s in question among United’s loanees.
“You’ve got [Marcus] Rashford out on loan, you’ve got [Jadon] Sancho out on loan, you’ve got Antony out on loan. Is there a way back for them guys? I don’t know,” Pallister told the Manchester Evening News (via William Hill Vegas).
“I think Antony is probably better suited to the football that he’s playing out in Spain. I liked his attitude when he was here and I know he got a bit of stick, but he was always game, he was always up for a fight.
“It didn’t really work from him here. Some people are better attuned to the foreign kind of football rather than the Premier League.”
Many supporters might share this same view, considering what they saw of the player during his time in England to date. Now under ex-Man City chief Manuel Pellegrini, he’s become an integral part of the team and has helped push Los Verdiblancos towards a Europa Conference League final.
Yet the winger often seemed baffled by Premier League defences. Antony’s overreliance on his left boot often led to ineffective displays, and his numbers failed to improve once Amorim took over in November.
It’s fortunate for United they have Amad Diallo as an established alternative for the right flank. The Ivorian has been hitting his stride at United over the past year or so, having had his own struggles for prominence at Old Trafford.
United now face the conundrum of deciding their terms to let Antony go given his market value has nosedived since moving from Amsterdam. It’s believed United have already snubbed one Betis bid to buy him outright, which implies the sum offered doesn’t square with their price expectations.
United are reportedly asking for £40m to part ways with the player, almost half of what they originally shelled out nearly three years ago. The star has expressed his fondness for his current club, telling Mundo Deportivo moving to Seville was “the best decision” he’s ever made.
Betis’ financial scope this summer will depend largely on their ability to clinch a spot in next season’s Champions League. Pellegrini’s team must secure a place in the top five of La Liga to make the cut, currently sitting just shy in sixth place and trailing by three points.
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