Antony continued his resurgence at Real Betis, earning the club’s best player award for the second consecutive game on Saturday.
The Manchester United loanee looked like a completely different player in Spain, leaving Red Devils fans questioning whether United—not Antony—was the real problem.
The Brazilian winger joined Betis on loan during the winter transfer window, with the Spanish side covering 84% of his £200,000-a-week wages.
Despite his struggles at Old Trafford, Antony has made an immediate impact in La Liga, scoring Betis’ opening goal in the 10th minute against Celta Vigo.
Betis went into halftime 2-0 up, thanks to a second goal from Diego Llorente in the 22nd minute. However, a second-half collapse saw Manuel Pellegrini’s side concede three unanswered goals, with Williot Swedberg netting Celta’s winner three minutes from time.
The defeat leaves Betis 10th in La Liga, with just one win in their last six matches, but Antony is proving to be one of their bright spots.
Antony Calls for Mentality Shift at Betis
Speaking after the match, Antony urged his teammates to change their mindset after squandering a two-goal lead.
"It’s very difficult to understand that we lost this match. We started very well, we went 2-0 up, but we have to change our mentality," he told DAZN.
"We scored two goals, but we have to be focused throughout the match, the 90 minutes. We have to work to be better. We have to change our mentality. We have to start well and finish well.
"We have to work hard, look at what we are not doing well in order to get the three points in the next game."
United Fans React: Is Manchester United the Real Problem?
After watching Antony thrive at Betis, many United fans took to social media to suggest that the club—not the player—was at fault for his struggles in England.
On X (formerly Twitter), fans shared their frustration:
- @ChocoTribe: “Just look at Antony balling with Real Betis. Man United remains the problem.”
- @Antony (not that one!): “Antony 1G1A in 2 games for Betis, United just cursed.”
- @ndilichi1261151: “Antony has scored on his second outing for Real Betis. I’ve always known Manchester United was the problem.”
On Reddit, users echoed similar sentiments:
- u/Fearless_Phone6891: “I think our club just ruins players. Hope Antony cooks La Liga for the rest of the season.”
- u/DiskTraditional8542: “Man United is literally the problem. We should just reset the whole club from top to bottom because we can’t get any worse. Every player who signs here becomes a shadow of themselves, and as soon as they leave, they thrive. It’s madness.”
However, not everyone was convinced.
- u/GeorgeBonanza: “Hilarious. The guy scored in his first game at United and then became one of the club’s worst-ever signings for the price. Now, he gets an ‘assist’ after Isco scored a rebound from his shot, and suddenly Antony is lighting up La Liga? Please.”
United’s Summer Plans: Striker Search and Midfield Swap?
Meanwhile, Manchester United are actively exploring striker options for the summer, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin emerging as a potential target.
According to Fichajes, United see the Everton forward—who will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season—as a possible solution to their goalscoring struggles.
However, he is not the only free agent the Red Devils are monitoring, with four other names also being considered.
Additionally, reports in Italy suggest that United are weighing up a swap deal for Douglas Luiz, which could see one of their struggling players move to Juventus in return.
With Antony impressing in Spain and United plotting major changes this summer, the club finds itself at a crossroads—will they finally fix their transfer mistakes, or will another star thrive elsewhere while United continues to struggle?
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