logo
Former UFC champ Charles Oliveira returns to face Rafael Fiziev in UFC Rio main event

Former UFC champ Charles Oliveira returns to face Rafael Fiziev in UFC Rio main event

Yahoo19 hours ago
A little over a month removed from his knockout loss at UFC 317, Charles Oliveira already has his next fight lined up. The former UFC champion will return to the cage on October 11 to face Rafael Fiziev in the main event of a UFC Fight Night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the promotion announced on Thursday.
The 35-year-old Oliveira suffered a devastating knockout loss at the hands of UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria at the end of June, but soon after expressed his desire to return to action before the end of the year.
This will mark the first time in over five years that Oliveira has competed on a UFC card that's not a pay-per-view event. That outing — a submission win over Kevin Lee at a UFC Fight Night in March of 2020 — also marked the last time Oliveira fought in his home nation of Brazil.
Fiziev is coming off a unanimous decision win over Ignacio Bahamondes at a UFC on ABC event in June. That victory snapped a three-fight losing streak for Fiziev, who prior to that had won six straight fights in the UFC.
Despite the string of losses, Fiziev has been a fixture in the UFC lightweight rankings, thanks largely to his adept striking game. Two of the three defeats during his skid came against perennial contender Justin Gaethje, both in close fights. The other came against Mateusz Gamrot in a fight that saw Fiziev suffer a knee injury that kept him out of action for almost 18 months.
This pairing marks a notable step up in competition for Fiziev, who's currently ranked no. 10 in the UFC's own 155-pound rankings. It also gives him a chance against arguably the biggest name he's ever faced in his career, as Oliveira still retains widespread popularity with fans even after losing three of his last five.
The fight is also something of a risk for Oliveira, who's currently ranked fourth at lightweight. He noted that the KO loss to Topuria was the first time in his career he felt he'd been truly knocked unconscious, leaving him with no memory of the ending of the fight. By the time he fights Fiziev in this headlining bout, he will be just slightly over three months removed from that knockout.
The UFC Rio event lineup is still being finalized, but it is also expected to feature heavyweight bouts including Vitor Petrino vs. Thomas Petersen, as well as Jhonata Diniz vs. Mario Pinto.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Copa América Femenina, WAFCON showcase their potential – and a need for more support
Copa América Femenina, WAFCON showcase their potential – and a need for more support

Yahoo

time17 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Copa América Femenina, WAFCON showcase their potential – and a need for more support

The numbers are staggering. Thirty-one days. Three continents. Thirty-eight teams representing populations as vast as 237 million (Nigeria) and as quaint as 398,000 (Iceland). Eighty-five matches, 10 of which were decided by stomach-churning penalties. Two of those nail-biters were finals. And each of the 2025 continental champions – England at the Euros, Nigeria at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and Brazil at Copa América Femenina — successfully clawed its way back from deficits. This is the kind of summer that compels you to commit every detail to memory so they crystallize into legendary tales for future generations: Ann-Katrin Berger's heroic save to keep Germany in the quarterfinals; Esther Okoronkwo's cool-calm-collected penalty despite Moroccan fans flashing lasers in her face to turn the tide back toward Nigeria's Mission X; the timeless Marta's last-second goal in the Copa final that revived Brazil's hopes of a ninth title. Europe and the U.S. are home to some of the finest, most storied women's football teams and players in the world, but increasingly, at the club level, stars boast roots in Africa and South America. Yet each time there's an opportunity to follow these superstars back home to their competitions outside the Global North, the efforts fall short of doing them justice. Too often, matches are inaccessible to a global viewership or broadcasters pour limited resources into their programming. And the competitions are routinely marred by controversy, be that related to organizers' poor planning or limited investment by team's federations. With Brazil hosting South America's first Women's World Cup in 2027, it's past time to pay respect to women's football being played outside the glitz of Europe and the U.S.. Despite the concern over whether a small country like Switzerland could host the 2025 Euros, the hosts punched above their weight. Fans accessed each of Switzerland's stadiums with relative ease, filling venues and setting a new tournament attendance record of 657,291. Combined attendance for the quarter finals was 112,535, the highest in the history of the tournament. That enthusiasm was reflected in broadcast viewership numbers as well. The group matches and the final on Fox were the tournament's most watched ever in English in the U.S., with an average viewership of 306,000 in the group stage and a final peak of 1.92 million viewers. England's storybook ending to a second straight European Championship was a fitting one, but the same could be said of WAFCON and Copa América Femenina. The gaping disparities between the three tournaments, from the media coverage and accessibility to dedicated resources and logistical strategy, expose a lack of attention to African and South American women's football, though, even as the global game expands and competition between teams grows tighter. There's no denying that women's football in South America and Africa is being held back by circumstances beyond players' control. Nevertheless, the product is arguably the healthiest and most entertaining it's ever been. For a continental tournament that almost didn't happen, WAFCON crackled with stars who compete in NWSL. Zambian forwards Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji of the Orlando Pride and Bay FC, respectively, scored all six of the Copper Queens' goals in the tournament. Bay FC's Asisat Oshoala opened the account for the Super Falcons' historic run, taking just four minutes to find the back of the net against Tunisia. Gotham FC teenager Stella Nyamekye is still working her way into her club's playing roster, but the 19-year-old left a lasting impression for Ghana, who placed third. But the tournament's shine didn't only focus on NWSL players, nor those who play in top divisions or outside the continent. Botswana narrowly missed advancing out of their group yet shone at their second WAFCON, particularly 27-year-old goalkeeper Sedilame Maitumelo Bosija, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. Beneath the surface of the vibrant matchday outfits and irresistible playlists for which African tournaments are known, however, discontent simmered. Ten-time champions Nigeria are still battling their federation over unpaid wages. Before their first match, Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade called out the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the quality of hotel rooms the team was given, writing, 'Two professional women's players in this kitchen-sized room at a prestigious tournament' on an Instagram story, adding that the confederation 'can do better.' In South America, the tone for Copa América was set one week before the tournament began. Uruguayan players took to social media in a collective push to protest their working conditions. 'This measure is not against our passion, but rather for a fair right,' players' viral statements read. 'We want to represent Uruguay in the Copa América, but we also deserve dignified treatment for our effort and dedication.' This story came to a positive conclusion, with players flying to Quito, Ecuador, just a few days later, after Uruguay's federation agreed to meet players' demands. What were those demands? Use of the national team training center, better training conditions and clothing, reclassification from a 'development team' to full national team status and improved daily allowances for national and international duty. The team would go on to open the tournament against hosts Ecuador, with No. 10 Belén Aquino scoring a banger in the 11th minute. The moment felt like Uruguay once more raising its collective fist in the air. The media ecosystem surrounding the WAFCON and Copa América Femenina also pales in comparison to resources companies poured into Euros coverage this year. From a broadcast perspective, U.S. viewers tuning in for Copa América Femenina for English-language coverage were often presented with Euros coverage during halftime of matches. Some games were manned by a single broadcaster, who juggled analyst and play-by-play duties. Yet, this did little to stifle the growing appetite for South American women's football in the U.S., which was evident by the dramatic spike in viewership from the 2022 competition. Saturday's historic final between Brazil and Colombia was the most watched Copa América Femenina telecast on Fox Sports networks ever. The network on Tuesday revealed it saw a 273 percent jump in viewership, with 302,000 tuning in on Saturday compared to 81,000 viewers in 2022 for the same matchup. It's worth noting the final was booted from its expected channel come gametime, leaving viewers confused after Fox unexpectedly moved coverage to FS2 due to a baseball game running over on FS1, which was slated to show the game. The match eventually returned to FS1 mid-game. The snafu is symbolic of the cards women's sports viewers are often dealt, even as the sector's popularity skyrockets. It's unclear whether the switch had any impact on Fox's final viewership numbers. Overall, Fox reported the 2025 tournament saw a 114 percent spike in viewership across FS1 and FS2 compared to 2022 (79,000 vs. 37,000 viewers). And while BeIN Sports carried WAFCON as it did in 2022, the platform remains challenging and expensive to access in the U.S., which could be done via Fubo, or on YouTube TV along with a Sports Plus add-on package. BeIN Sports did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Athletic about viewership numbers or how the company prioritizes the tournament. Throughout Copa, the theme of inequity remained a persistent thorn in the sides of organizers, with some pre-tournament decisions, like limiting player access to pitches before fixtures, resulting in fierce backlash from fans and players in the tournament. After Brazil's game against Bolivia, images began circulating of these teams warming up in crammed indoor spaces at the stadium, and also side by side. CONMEBOL reasoned this was structured to maintain the integrity of the pitch when back-to-back games were held in one stadium. The governing body reversed the rule following pushback, allowing players access to pitches 15 minutes before matches. Brazil may have boasted the loudest voice to push back, with Marta describing how she felt dismayed by the tournament's organization. 'It's been a long time since I played in a tournament here in South America, and we're saddened by these situations,' Marta told the Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. '(CONMEBOL) demand performance from the athletes and a high level of work, but we also demand a high level of organization. We have the right to demand organization. 'This situation is really disruptive. There wasn't enough space for both teams, but both wanted to be there to prepare. I really don't understand why we can't warm up on the field. This is still a problem for us because it's very hot here, with the altitude.' It wasn't long before players began comparing their Copa América to the men's massive version that unraveled across the U.S. last year. Argentina, winners of the men's Copa America, went home with a whopping $16 million. By comparison, Brazil's women only took home $1.5 million. Morocco hosted its second WAFCON in a row in July, and has already claimed the next host duty for the following tournament kicking off next year in CAF's effort to realign the schedule after COVID-19 and Olympics interruptions. Questions must be asked about the benefits and costs of serial hosting, especially because the 2025 iteration of the tournament saw a downgrade in facility use due to the fact that Morocco is also hosting the men's AFCON from December to January 2026. In order to prepare for the men's tournament, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation planned renovations of the three major stadiums used in the 2022 WAFCON — but they were unavailable to the women's teams this time and moved to smaller venues further outside the city centers of Rabat and Casablanca. Marketing around Copa América was a huge talking point, too, with critics suggesting if federations or organizers had done a better job pitching the event to the world, then there'd have been more interest. The players are already marketable. Marta, for instance, has 2.8 million followers on Instagram. An unfortunate footnote for women's football is that players have in the past had to fight for visibility on social platforms — something that Uruguayan players had to demand of their domestic clubs in 2023. Across the three tournaments, Nigeria and Brazil are by far the biggest; the latter has an estimated population of more than 212 million which notably contains the largest number of people of African descent outside of Africa, specifically Nigeria. These are massive missed opportunities to spotlight star players with engaged supporters. Oshoala, a six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year, has 1.2 million Instagram followers, for instance. For its part, Spotify did collaborate with the Houston Dash's Michelle Alozie to celebrate Nigeria's newest trophy. These tournaments were a success on the pitch, with players delivering entertaining football and historic matchups that have fans begging for more. But players can't grow the game alone. It's imperative stakeholders across women's football in South America and Africa do their part. Too often players in women's football are expected to win championships before they can demand for what they deserve — but this fails to consider that their demands would help win those championships. When asked to assess the quality and promise of African women's football, especially after beating a technically strong team like Morocco, Nigeria interim manager Justine Madugu was emphatic in his opening response after the match. 'Internally, we have to look at development from the angle of facility development, player management, and good welfare support and package for them, and try as much as possible to expose the women's league to win or attract more sponsors that will put more money into the game,' he said. 'Even us as coaches, we need better education, too. We also need to improve ourselves because you can't just remain at the level you are. The game is dynamic. There are new ideas coming up every time.' Madugu also stressed the importance of building developmental programs within all African federations, a strategy Morocco has been bullish about in recent years. Brazil coach Arthur Elias reflected how the tournament, and final, could have been improved. One example, he said, would have been better-quality pitch. 'Why is what we have in FIFA so different and what we have in CONMEBOL so different? This is just a reflection, I'm not here to massacre and judge anyone, neither the referees nor the organizers,' Elias said. 'Women's football only deserves respect and equal conditions.' There will be two more opportunities for federations, media outlets and businesses looking to capitalize on the explosion of global women's soccer to get things right in South America and Africa. July 2026 will see another edition of WAFCON, and there is no doubt the teams will build on the momentum generated. South America's teams resume competitive play with the inaugural CONMEBOL Nations League in October, the new pathway for teams to qualify for the Women's World Cup. Until now, Copa América was the region's lone qualifying pathway. It's a welcome change that provides teams with more competitive matches, which, for some nations, remain a rarity. It also sets the stage for drama and the potential for upsets. The Women's World Cup has the potential to bring a seismic shift to women's football in South America. It's an unprecedented opportunity that could ignite the sport's growth on the continent and showcase the possibilities outside of North America and Europe — so long as everyone is prepared. The players certainly are. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Soccer, International Football, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company

Copa América Femenina, WAFCON showcase their potential – and a need for more support
Copa América Femenina, WAFCON showcase their potential – and a need for more support

New York Times

time22 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Copa América Femenina, WAFCON showcase their potential – and a need for more support

The numbers are staggering. Thirty-one days. Three continents. Thirty-eight teams representing populations as vast as 237 million (Nigeria) and as quaint as 398,000 (Iceland). Eighty-five matches, 10 of which were decided by stomach-churning penalties. Two of those nail-biters were finals. And each of the 2025 continental champions – England at the Euros, Nigeria at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and Brazil at Copa América Femenina — successfully clawed its way back from deficits. Advertisement This is the kind of summer that compels you to commit every detail to memory so they crystallize into legendary tales for future generations: Ann-Katrin Berger's heroic save to keep Germany in the quarterfinals; Esther Okoronkwo's cool-calm-collected penalty despite Moroccan fans flashing lasers in her face to turn the tide back toward Nigeria's Mission X; the timeless Marta's last-second goal in the Copa final that revived Brazil's hopes of a ninth title. Europe and the U.S. are home to some of the finest, most storied women's football teams and players in the world, but increasingly, at the club level, stars boast roots in Africa and South America. Yet each time there's an opportunity to follow these superstars back home to their competitions outside the Global North, the efforts fall short of doing them justice. Too often, matches are inaccessible to a global viewership or broadcasters pour limited resources into their programming. And the competitions are routinely marred by controversy, be that related to organizers' poor planning or limited investment by team's federations. With Brazil hosting South America's first Women's World Cup in 2027, it's past time to pay respect to women's football being played outside the glitz of Europe and the U.S.. Despite the concern over whether a small country like Switzerland could host the 2025 Euros, the hosts punched above their weight. Fans accessed each of Switzerland's stadiums with relative ease, filling venues and setting a new tournament attendance record of 657,291. Combined attendance for the quarter finals was 112,535, the highest in the history of the tournament. That enthusiasm was reflected in broadcast viewership numbers as well. The group matches and the final on Fox were the tournament's most watched ever in English in the U.S., with an average viewership of 306,000 in the group stage and a final peak of 1.92 million viewers. Advertisement England's storybook ending to a second straight European Championship was a fitting one, but the same could be said of WAFCON and Copa América Femenina. The gaping disparities between the three tournaments, from the media coverage and accessibility to dedicated resources and logistical strategy, expose a lack of attention to African and South American women's football, though, even as the global game expands and competition between teams grows tighter. There's no denying that women's football in South America and Africa is being held back by circumstances beyond players' control. Nevertheless, the product is arguably the healthiest and most entertaining it's ever been. For a continental tournament that almost didn't happen, WAFCON crackled with stars who compete in NWSL. Zambian forwards Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji of the Orlando Pride and Bay FC, respectively, scored all six of the Copper Queens' goals in the tournament. Bay FC's Asisat Oshoala opened the account for the Super Falcons' historic run, taking just four minutes to find the back of the net against Tunisia. Gotham FC teenager Stella Nyamekye is still working her way into her club's playing roster, but the 19-year-old left a lasting impression for Ghana, who placed third. But the tournament's shine didn't only focus on NWSL players, nor those who play in top divisions or outside the continent. Botswana narrowly missed advancing out of their group yet shone at their second WAFCON, particularly 27-year-old goalkeeper Sedilame Maitumelo Bosija, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. Beneath the surface of the vibrant matchday outfits and irresistible playlists for which African tournaments are known, however, discontent simmered. Ten-time champions Nigeria are still battling their federation over unpaid wages. Before their first match, Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade called out the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the quality of hotel rooms the team was given, writing, 'Two professional women's players in this kitchen-sized room at a prestigious tournament' on an Instagram story, adding that the confederation 'can do better.' In South America, the tone for Copa América was set one week before the tournament began. Uruguayan players took to social media in a collective push to protest their working conditions. 'This measure is not against our passion, but rather for a fair right,' players' viral statements read. 'We want to represent Uruguay in the Copa América, but we also deserve dignified treatment for our effort and dedication.' Advertisement This story came to a positive conclusion, with players flying to Quito, Ecuador, just a few days later, after Uruguay's federation agreed to meet players' demands. What were those demands? Use of the national team training center, better training conditions and clothing, reclassification from a 'development team' to full national team status and improved daily allowances for national and international duty. The team would go on to open the tournament against hosts Ecuador, with No. 10 Belén Aquino scoring a banger in the 11th minute. The moment felt like Uruguay once more raising its collective fist in the air. The media ecosystem surrounding the WAFCON and Copa América Femenina also pales in comparison to resources companies poured into Euros coverage this year. From a broadcast perspective, U.S. viewers tuning in for Copa América Femenina for English-language coverage were often presented with Euros coverage during halftime of matches. Some games were manned by a single broadcaster, who juggled analyst and play-by-play duties. Yet, this did little to stifle the growing appetite for South American women's football in the U.S., which was evident by the dramatic spike in viewership from the 2022 competition. Saturday's historic final between Brazil and Colombia was the most watched Copa América Femenina telecast on Fox Sports networks ever. The network on Tuesday revealed it saw a 273 percent jump in viewership, with 302,000 tuning in on Saturday compared to 81,000 viewers in 2022 for the same matchup. It's worth noting the final was booted from its expected channel come gametime, leaving viewers confused after Fox unexpectedly moved coverage to FS2 due to a baseball game running over on FS1, which was slated to show the game. The match eventually returned to FS1 mid-game. The snafu is symbolic of the cards women's sports viewers are often dealt, even as the sector's popularity skyrockets. It's unclear whether the switch had any impact on Fox's final viewership numbers. Overall, Fox reported the 2025 tournament saw a 114 percent spike in viewership across FS1 and FS2 compared to 2022 (79,000 vs. 37,000 viewers). And while BeIN Sports carried WAFCON as it did in 2022, the platform remains challenging and expensive to access in the U.S., which could be done via Fubo, or on YouTube TV along with a Sports Plus add-on package. BeIN Sports did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Athletic about viewership numbers or how the company prioritizes the tournament. Throughout Copa, the theme of inequity remained a persistent thorn in the sides of organizers, with some pre-tournament decisions, like limiting player access to pitches before fixtures, resulting in fierce backlash from fans and players in the tournament. After Brazil's game against Bolivia, images began circulating of these teams warming up in crammed indoor spaces at the stadium, and also side by side. CONMEBOL reasoned this was structured to maintain the integrity of the pitch when back-to-back games were held in one stadium. The governing body reversed the rule following pushback, allowing players access to pitches 15 minutes before matches. Brazil may have boasted the loudest voice to push back, with Marta describing how she felt dismayed by the tournament's organization. Advertisement 'It's been a long time since I played in a tournament here in South America, and we're saddened by these situations,' Marta told the Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte. '(CONMEBOL) demand performance from the athletes and a high level of work, but we also demand a high level of organization. We have the right to demand organization. 'This situation is really disruptive. There wasn't enough space for both teams, but both wanted to be there to prepare. I really don't understand why we can't warm up on the field. This is still a problem for us because it's very hot here, with the altitude.' It wasn't long before players began comparing their Copa América to the men's massive version that unraveled across the U.S. last year. Argentina, winners of the men's Copa America, went home with a whopping $16 million. By comparison, Brazil's women only took home $1.5 million. Morocco hosted its second WAFCON in a row in July, and has already claimed the next host duty for the following tournament kicking off next year in CAF's effort to realign the schedule after COVID-19 and Olympics interruptions. Questions must be asked about the benefits and costs of serial hosting, especially because the 2025 iteration of the tournament saw a downgrade in facility use due to the fact that Morocco is also hosting the men's AFCON from December to January 2026. In order to prepare for the men's tournament, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation planned renovations of the three major stadiums used in the 2022 WAFCON — but they were unavailable to the women's teams this time and moved to smaller venues further outside the city centers of Rabat and Casablanca. Marketing around Copa América was a huge talking point, too, with critics suggesting if federations or organizers had done a better job pitching the event to the world, then there'd have been more interest. The players are already marketable. Marta, for instance, has 2.8 million followers on Instagram. An unfortunate footnote for women's football is that players have in the past had to fight for visibility on social platforms — something that Uruguayan players had to demand of their domestic clubs in 2023. Across the three tournaments, Nigeria and Brazil are by far the biggest; the latter has an estimated population of more than 212 million which notably contains the largest number of people of African descent outside of Africa, specifically Nigeria. These are massive missed opportunities to spotlight star players with engaged supporters. Oshoala, a six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year, has 1.2 million Instagram followers, for instance. For its part, Spotify did collaborate with the Houston Dash's Michelle Alozie to celebrate Nigeria's newest trophy. Advertisement These tournaments were a success on the pitch, with players delivering entertaining football and historic matchups that have fans begging for more. But players can't grow the game alone. It's imperative stakeholders across women's football in South America and Africa do their part. Too often players in women's football are expected to win championships before they can demand for what they deserve — but this fails to consider that their demands would help win those championships. When asked to assess the quality and promise of African women's football, especially after beating a technically strong team like Morocco, Nigeria interim manager Justine Madugu was emphatic in his opening response after the match. 'Internally, we have to look at development from the angle of facility development, player management, and good welfare support and package for them, and try as much as possible to expose the women's league to win or attract more sponsors that will put more money into the game,' he said. 'Even us as coaches, we need better education, too. We also need to improve ourselves because you can't just remain at the level you are. The game is dynamic. There are new ideas coming up every time.' Madugu also stressed the importance of building developmental programs within all African federations, a strategy Morocco has been bullish about in recent years. Brazil coach Arthur Elias reflected how the tournament, and final, could have been improved. One example, he said, would have been better-quality pitch. 'Why is what we have in FIFA so different and what we have in CONMEBOL so different? This is just a reflection, I'm not here to massacre and judge anyone, neither the referees nor the organizers,' Elias said. 'Women's football only deserves respect and equal conditions.' There will be two more opportunities for federations, media outlets and businesses looking to capitalize on the explosion of global women's soccer to get things right in South America and Africa. July 2026 will see another edition of WAFCON, and there is no doubt the teams will build on the momentum generated. Advertisement South America's teams resume competitive play with the inaugural CONMEBOL Nations League in October, the new pathway for teams to qualify for the Women's World Cup. Until now, Copa América was the region's lone qualifying pathway. It's a welcome change that provides teams with more competitive matches, which, for some nations, remain a rarity. It also sets the stage for drama and the potential for upsets. The Women's World Cup has the potential to bring a seismic shift to women's football in South America. It's an unprecedented opportunity that could ignite the sport's growth on the continent and showcase the possibilities outside of North America and Europe — so long as everyone is prepared. The players certainly are. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle

Manchester United winger ready to reject Saudi transfer
Manchester United winger ready to reject Saudi transfer

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Manchester United winger ready to reject Saudi transfer

Manchester United winger Antony has rejected a formal transfer offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr as he continues to push for a permanent move to Real Betis. According to multiple reports from Spain, the bid from Cristiano Ronaldo's club is just the latest proposal the winger has dismissed. The 25-year-old, who has been deemed surplus to requirements under Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, has also previously turned down approaches from Brazilian clubs Botafogo and Sao Paulo. Antony's determination stems from a highly successful loan spell at Betis last season, where he felt valued by the coaching staff and rediscovered his best form. According to Sport the Brazilian international is so committed to a return that he is willing to accept a significant pay cut and maintain his stance until the final days of the transfer window. This has created a complex standoff between the club and the player. Manchester United, needing to balance its books and fund its own transfer targets, is eager to sell Antony to the highest bidder. On the other side, Real Betis are equally determined to bring him back but are constrained by their budget. The Spanish club is reportedly preparing a structured offer of approximately $€20 million (around £17 million), which would be supplemented by a sell-on clause. This clause would grant United a percentage of any future transfer fee Betis receives for the player, offering potential long-term value. The proposal, however, remains well below United's initial valuation. The Premier League club now faces a difficult decision: accept a compromised fee from Antony's only desired destination or risk retaining an unsettled player who is not in the manager's plans. Both Antony and Betis are aware that the pressure on United will intensify as the transfer deadline draws closer. This saga has become a strategic waiting game, with all parties braced for further negotiations. Read More – See More- Subscribe to our social channels: | | |

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store