Family First: Why Antony Chose Betis Over Bayern
In a surprising revelation, Brazilian winger Antony has disclosed that he rejected a dramatic deadline-day approach from Bundesliga titans Bayern Munich to complete a permanent transfer to LaLiga side Real Betis.
The 25-year-old, who became a fan favourite in Seville during a successful loan spell, was the subject of a personal phone call from Bayern's new manager, Vincent Kompany, late on transfer deadline day. Despite the allure of joining a global giant like Bayern, Antony's decision was ultimately swayed by his family's happiness in Spain.
The Eleventh-Hour Call That Shook His Resolve
"I'm going to be completely honest with you right now, it really shook me up," Antony confessed to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. He described the moment Kompany reached out, stating, "Vincent Kompany called me and we had a conversation. He was super polite to me, said he always really liked my football, and this was at 11pm (on deadline day), a little after 11pm."
The winger admitted the approach deeply affected him due to the stature of the club and the respect shown by the former Manchester City captain. However, the pull of his family life in Seville proved stronger than the prospect of teaming up with Harry Kane in Germany.
"What weighed heavily on my decision was that I'm a family man," Antony explained. "It's about looking out for my children. Lorenzo (his son) loves this place, loves this city (Seville). When we were on vacation in Brazil, without knowing anything, he always asked, 'Dad, when are we going back to Spain?'"
Closing the Chapter on Manchester United
This move marks the definitive end of Antony's tumultuous stint at Manchester United, where he will be remembered as one of the club's most expensive flops. Having signed for a staggering £86million in 2023, he managed only 12 goals in 96 games over three years at Old Trafford.
His fortunes plummeted under manager Ruben Amorim, who exiled him from the first-team squad. Antony was part of a group—dubbed the 'bomb squad'—that included Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Alejandro Garnacho, all of whom have now also left the club.
Despite the challenging end to his United career, Antony holds no bitterness. "I don't hold any grudges, I'm not angry at anyone there," he stated, reflecting on the experience as a valuable life lesson. His permanent transfer to Betis was finalised for £21.6million, less than a quarter of what United paid for him.
Now settled and thriving, Antony has already scored six goals in 11 appearances across all competitions this season for Betis, signalling a triumphant fresh start away from the pressures of the Premier League.
