Antony has disclosed that Bayern Munich attempted to sign him from Manchester United during the summer transfer window, revealing that he received a personal call from manager Vincent Kompany on deadline day. The Brazilian winger, however, turned down the opportunity to join the Bundesliga champions in favour of a return to Real Betis.
The 25-year-old was informed he was surplus to requirements at Old Trafford and was placed in a five-man exit list, attracting interest from clubs across Europe and Saudi Arabia. After impressing during a half-season loan spell with Real Betis last term, Antony held out for a move back to Seville, with the two clubs eventually agreeing a deal worth up to €25million (£21.7m) just hours before the window closed.
Speaking to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, Antony described the approach from Bayern as a significant moment, saying: "Dude, I'm going to be completely honest with you right now, it really shook me up. We're talking about a global giant, Bayern Munich, where there is a coach with that kind of history. 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."
Despite the allure of joining a club of Bayern's stature, Antony prioritised his family, particularly his son Lorenzo, who has developed a strong attachment to Seville. "What weighed heavily on my decision was that I'm a family man. It's about looking out for my children. Lorenzo loves this place, loves this city. When we were on vacation in Brazil, without knowing anything, he always asked, 'Dad, when are we going back to Spain?" the 16-time Brazil international explained.
Antony, who joined Manchester United for a reported £86m in August 2022, insisted he holds no grudges over his departure from the Premier League club. "I don't hold any grudges, I'm not angry at anyone there," he said. "This serves as a great learning experience for me to know how to fight with the right weapons and with wisdom when faced with certain situations because that's part of life, it's part of the process. I'm also very grateful to Manchester United because I didn't only experience bad moments, but I also had some good moments there, with people I met who were also great. Now I'm here at Betis, Manchester was a very good experience and I'm very happy to be here at Betis."
