Antony sends message to doubters & reveals key reason for torrid Man Utd spell | OneFootball

Antony admits his time at Manchester United was affected by issues in his personal life but insists he has the ability to prove his doubters wrong.

The Brazilian was farmed out to Real Betis on loan in January having failed to make any kind of impression this season.

United agreed to pay close to £90m for Antony when signing him from Ajax in 2022 and his Old Trafford career got off to a fine start. Indeed, three goals in his first three Premier League games – the first time a Red Devils player had ever achieved that feat – suggested that then-manager Erik ten Hag had made the right decision in raiding his former club.

Just two more goals followed in Antony's next 59 Premier League games – the only real standout moment of his tenure being the winning goal against Barcelona in a Europa League play-off clash in February 2023.

"I think that, apart from my football life, my personal life got in the way a lot, because of the things I went through, the moments I lived there," Antony told ESPN in a new interview. "Like it or not, it's affected me a lot. So, of course, I know the potential I have.

"It's not for nothing that I went to a World Cup, it's not for nothing that I was sold to United for a lot of money, and I know my worth.

"People look at the moment, but they don't look at the bigger picture, what happens to bring things about. So, as I said, my feeling at United was that I had good moments, bad moments too, but of course I could have done more, I could have done better."

Antony is enjoying life in Spain / Fran Santiago/GettyImages

Antony went on to discuss his relationship with Ten Hag at length – the Dutchman was relieved of his duties in October and permanently replaced by Ruben Amorim – and insisted that his respect for his former coach remains as strong as ever despite being overlooked for selection on a number of occasions.

"Erik ten Hag is a coach I'm very grateful to. He helped me a lot in the Netherlands, and in England too, even though the opportunities didn't come the way I wanted to.

"But that's the coach's choice, I don't hold any grudges or anything. On the contrary, I'm very grateful for everything he's done with me, for all the conversations too.

"He's a coach who will certainly be in this story because he helped me a lot."

Real Betis have already communicated their desire to sign Antony on a permanent basis – a deal United are likely to try and faciltate as they look to usher in a new era under Amorim.