Antony shines in Betis debut and Tel 'keen' on move to Man Utd this summer

Mathys Tel emerged as one of the most talked-about names in the winter transfer window.

The 19-year-old French forward was on Manchester United’s radar, alongside compatriot Christopher Nkunku.

However, while Nkunku remained at Chelsea, Tel made a late switch to Tottenham Hotspur after initially seeming unlikely to move.

His arrival at Spurs adds another layer of intrigue to next weekend’s North London clash, where he is expected to make his Premier League debut.

Despite joining Tottenham, reports suggest Tel remains open to a future move to Old Trafford.

German journalist Christian Falk claimed the teenager still harbors ambitions of playing for United, stating via CaughtOffside: "Whether Tel stays with Bayern beyond the summer or moves on, it's entirely up to him. If he can make the step to United, he would like to do it."

Meanwhile, former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown weighed in on recent speculation surrounding United’s young stars, particularly Alejandro Garnacho.

Speaking to Football Insider, he criticized suggestions that United could offload key academy talents: "It's a bit ridiculous when you see players like Kobbie Mainoo and Garnacho being talked about in connection to leaving the club.

"Keeping those players at the club is a tradition of Man United."

Real Betis head coach Manuel Pellegrini has expressed confidence in Manchester United loanee Antony after the winger made a solid debut in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao.

Antony, who joined Betis on loan for the rest of the season after struggling for regular minutes at Old Trafford, played 72 minutes and made a notable impact. The Brazilian completed 83% of his 24 attempted passes and registered two key passes.

Despite Antony's reputation for flair, former Manchester City manager Pellegrini believes the winger doesn’t need to rely on tricks to be effective. Speaking after the match, he said:

"I think it was a very positive debut. He's a quality player. I was talking to him just before the game, and I believe a good player doesn’t have to constantly show off their skills with the ball.

"He needs to play a good game, minimize mistakes, and contribute in key moments—whether it’s scoring, delivering a good pass, or providing a strong cross."

Pellegrini was particularly pleased with Antony’s involvement in Betis’ second goal and is optimistic about his contribution going forward.

"He was very involved today, especially with the second goal. He only arrived a couple of days ago, but I think he's going to bring a lot to us."