Antony moves into hotel as Betis close in on deal with Man Utd

Manchester United winger Antony has packed up from his Cheshire mansion and checked into an airport hotel, as he looks to finalise a move.

The Brazilian is pushing hard to leave, with Real Betis now in advanced talks to take him on loan for the 2025/26 season.

The deal, reported to include a £3 million loan fee and an option for Betis to make the switch permanent for £33 million in summer 2026, appears close to completion.

Antony’s unusual step of relocating closer to Manchester Airport underlines his determination to leave quickly and begin a fresh chapter in Spain.

Signed in 2022 from Ajax for a staggering £85 million, Antony arrived with huge expectations but has struggled to justify that fee.

He has sold his home in Hale, and moved into the Marriott hotel just five minutes from Manchester Airport.

Antony's Porsche in the hotel car park and he is regularly seen in the spa. A source told The Sun: “Antony clearly wants to leave Old Trafford and has done everything he can to ensure if and when a call comes from another club, he’s ready to go. He could be on a plane in 30 minutes.”

The departure of Erik ten Hag, the manager who brought him to Manchester, further reduced Antony's chances at United.

Ruben Amorim has been reshaping the squad to fit his high-intensity pressing system, and Antony has not featured prominently in his plans.

With United under pressure to streamline the wage bill and trim down their squad, the 25-year-old’s exit seems to suit all parties.

For Betis, the deal represents a major coup. They gain a winger with Champions League experience and the potential to thrive in La Liga’s more tactical, technical environment.

Antony, meanwhile, gets the opportunity to rebuild his career in a league that may better suit his style and rhythm.

For United, the move crystallizes one of their more expensive recruitment mistakes in recent history. However, it opens the door for greater opportunities for emerging talents like Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho, while also freeing up resources for Amorim to pursue reinforcements more aligned with his philosophy.

Antony’s stay in Manchester looks to be ending not with fanfare but with a quiet check-in at an airport hotel — a symbolic staging post for a player desperate to fly towards a new beginning.