Latest news with #Antony
Forbes
an hour ago
- Business
- Forbes
Selling Bruno Fernandes Will Cripple Manchester United
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MAY 28: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United speaks to the broadcaster ... More after the match between Manchester United and ASEAN All Stars at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on May 28, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Annice Lyn/Manchester United via Getty Images) For Manchester United, selling Bruno Fernandes would be madness. He has been the club's best player since he signed five years ago, and although he is now 30 years old, dispensing of him now would be suicidal. The list of successful Manchester United transfers in the past decade is staggeringly small; in fact, only Fernandes has arrived at Old Trafford and elevated his game to new levels. That becomes even more remarkable when you look at how those who've left Old Trafford this season have performed. Scott McTominay has just been named Serie A player of the year, leading Napoli to the title. Marcus Rashford is back in the England team after excelling for Aston Villa. Even Antony is being singled out for praise by his club captain at Real Betis, Isco. So, for the club to be entertaining flogging, the one man who has bucked that trend is baffling. Sure, a fee well over $100 million for a player whose peak years are ahead of him is excellent value, but the vacuum it would create at a time when pillars of leadership are required would do untold damage. Fernandes' winning the club's Player of the Year award four years in a row is both a credit to his performances and an indictment of the weaknesses surrounding him. You'd be hard-pressed to name any other contender for the award since the Portuguese star has been at the club. His manager is not keen on the idea either. Asked by journalists about the possibility of his captain departing, Ruben Amorim said: 'I think he wants to stay. He is saying 'no' to a lot of things, but it shows that he wants to win, and he is really good and needs to be in the best league in the world. 'Of course, I am the manager, the coach, but sometimes it is the decision of the player, but of course, I talk with him, I explain things, and I just have that feeling. When you talk to someone, you have that feeling that he wants to stay. 'Of course, in a lot of games this season he was so frustrated, but he knows what we are doing. The feeling that I have every time I speak to him is he wants to continue for sure at Man Utd. But you never know.' HONG KONG, CHINA - MAY 30: Manchester United Head Coach / Manager Ruben Amorim talks to media during ... More the post match press conference after the match bewteen Manchester United and Hong Kong at Hong Kong Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Manchester United via Getty Images) Asked whether the club could afford to reject a reported $134 million bid from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, who are keen to sign the midfielder before the Club World Cup. His response was, 'Yes, [we can turn down a $134 million bid], we can find another way to earn money. ' Amorim's words did little to quell the murmurs within the media that Fernandes was pondering whether to make the switch. However, one journalist is convinced by the Manchester United manager's words: Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol. 'I think Bruno Fernandes is staying,' he said after the press conference. 'I just watched Ruben Amorim there and he would have been told by his media handlers that 'you're going to be asked about this story, it's a massive story - just play it with a straight bat and say he's a Manchester United player and he's got two years left on his contract, I'm not going to talk about media speculation.' 'He didn't do that, he came out and he gave us quite a lot. 'You could tell he's spoken to Bruno Fernandes and Fernandes has said to him, 'I've got this incredible offer, it's like I've won EuroMillions, £200m over three years. This is life-changing money boss but you know I'm not motivated by money. I love football, I love Manchester United'. 'I think he's sat down and spoken to Ruben Amorim and he's told him he is an integral part of the rebuild at Manchester United. I think he's happy to stay.' Solhekol pointed out that the Saudi Arabian club had a lot of reasons to try and force a move for Fernandes to happen. 'The clock is ticking for Al Hilal because they are playing in the Club World Cup,' he added. 'They don't have a head coach, they've been trying to sign (Cristiano) Ronaldo, they've been trying to sign Bruno Fernandes, they're trying to get Simone Inzaghi out of Inter. 'There is a lot going on at Al Hilal because they are flying the flag for Saudi Arabia at the Club World Cup. But looking at Ruben Amorim today I think it's pretty clear and final that Bruno Fernandes is going to stay.' Manchester United supporters will pray that's the case.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘With you, I started to smile again' – Tearful Antony announces Real Betis exit as £86m flop forced to return to Man Utd
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANTONY hailed his Real Betis loan spell as "one of the most beautiful chapters of my life" as he prepares for his return to Manchester United. The Brazil winger scored nine goals and provided five assists in 26 appearances for Betis in his reviving six-month loan move. 4 Antony said goodbye to Real Betis with an emotional video 4 The winger must return to Man Utd this summer But Antony and Betis endured a painful last dance, losing 4-1 to Chelsea in the Uefa Conference League final in Poland. He is set to return to Man Utd, who would not accept a cut-price deal or another loan move. The 26-year-old was grateful for his time at Betis as he penned an emotional open letter on Instagram. Antony said in Spanish: "Today is the day to give thanks for one of the most beautiful chapters of my life. "As I write this page of my story, I need to tell you why you have been —and always will be —so special to me. "Since I was a child, football wasn't just a dream, it was my only chance to change my life. "Life took me far, from the favela to the world. I left Brazil, played in the Netherlands, played in England, and went from being a boy to becoming a father. "A lot has changed, but football has always been there, always my safe harbour. Until one day, everything collapsed. Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford "From heaven to hell. The ball stopped going in, the joy faded, my world darkened, and I began to doubt myself, my talent, and my passion for the game. "That's when football gave me one last gift: Real Betis. From the first step into this club, I felt something different. 'Leaving Man Utd works wonders' - Fans love Antony's wild Real Betis celebrations as he goes topless and waves huge flag "It was like coming home, like finding a piece of myself that I thought I had lost. With you, I started to smile again. "Thank you for welcoming me as one of your own. Thank you for giving me back the joy of playing football. "And thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with the game. My home, my people, thank you so much." Antony captioned the heartwarming post with: "My world. My people." The video started with Antony walking around an Villamarin Stadium, soaking his final days with the club who desperately wanted to keep him. Football gave me one last gift: Real Betis. Antony 4 The goodbye video showed Antony's best moments in a Betis shirt He was wearing his Betis jersey, with his young kids popping up in the green and white kits too. It then showed his best match highlights, including his incredible goal against former Man Utd team-mate David de Gea at Fiorentina. Dramatic Hans Zimmer-like piano music played in the background throughout. Antony endured a torrid first half of the season in the Premier League, compounding what had been a frustrating two seasons at Old Trafford following his £86million from Ajax in 2022. While he might not be accepted back into the fold at Old Trafford, Antony attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former United boss Erik ten Hag.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘With you, I started to smile again' – Tearful Antony announces Real Betis exit as £86m flop forced to return to Man Utd
ANTONY hailed his Real Betis loan spell as "one of the most beautiful chapters of my life" as he prepares for his return to Manchester United . The Brazil winger scored nine goals and provided five assists in 26 appearances for Betis in his reviving six-month loan move. 4 Antony said goodbye to Real Betis with an emotional video 4 The winger must return to Man Utd this summer But Antony and Betis endured a painful last dance, He is set to return to Man Utd, who would not accept a cut-price deal or another loan move. The 26-year-old was grateful for his time at Betis as he penned an emotional open letter on Instagram . Antony said in Spanish: "Today is the day to give thanks for one of the most beautiful chapters of my life. READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS "As I write this page of my story, I need to tell you why you have been —and always will be —so special to me. "Since I was a child, football wasn't just a dream, it was my only chance to change my life. "Life took me far, from the favela to the world. I left Brazil, played in the Netherlands, played in England, and went from being a boy to becoming a father. "A lot has changed, but football has always been there, always my safe harbour. Until one day, everything collapsed. Most read in Football Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford "From heaven to hell. The ball stopped going in, the joy faded, my world darkened, and I began to doubt myself, my talent, and my passion for the game. "That's when football gave me one last gift: Real Betis. From the first step into this club, I felt something different. 'Leaving Man Utd works wonders' - Fans love Antony's wild Real Betis celebrations as he goes topless and waves huge flag "It was like coming home, like finding a piece of myself that I thought I had lost. With you, I started to smile again. "Thank you for welcoming me as one of your own. Thank you for giving me back the joy of playing football . "And thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with the game. My home, my people, thank you so much." Antony captioned the heartwarming post with: "My world. My people." The video started with Antony walking around an Villamarin Stadium, soaking his final days with the club who desperately wanted to keep him. Football gave me one last gift: Real Betis. Antony 4 The goodbye video showed Antony's best moments in a Betis shirt He was wearing his Betis jersey , with his young kids popping up in the green and white kits too. It then showed his best match highlights, including his Dramatic Hans Zimmer-like piano music played in the background throughout. Antony endured a torrid first half of the season in the Premier League , compounding what had been a frustrating two seasons at Old Trafford following his £86million from Ajax in 2022. While he might not be accepted back into the fold at Old Trafford, Antony attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former United boss Erik ten Hag. 4
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘With you, I started to smile again' – Tearful Antony announces Real Betis exit as £86m flop forced to return to Man Utd
ANTONY hailed his Real Betis loan spell as "one of the most beautiful chapters of my life" as he prepares for his return to Manchester United. The Brazil winger scored nine goals and provided five assists in 26 appearances for Betis in his reviving six-month loan move. 4 4 But Antony and Betis endured a painful last dance, losing 4-1 to Chelsea in the Uefa Conference League final in Poland. He is set to return to Man Utd, who would not accept a cut-price deal or another loan move. The 26-year-old was grateful for his time at Betis as he penned an emotional open letter on Instagram. Antony said in Spanish: "Today is the day to give thanks for one of the most beautiful chapters of my life. "As I write this page of my story, I need to tell you why you have been —and always will be —so special to me. "Since I was a child, football wasn't just a dream, it was my only chance to change my life. "Life took me far, from the favela to the world. I left Brazil, played in the Netherlands, played in England, and went from being a boy to becoming a father. "A lot has changed, but football has always been there, always my safe harbour. Until one day, everything collapsed. Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford "From heaven to hell. The ball stopped going in, the joy faded, my world darkened, and I began to doubt myself, my talent, and my passion for the game. "That's when football gave me one last gift: Real Betis. From the first step into this club, I felt something different. 'Leaving Man Utd works wonders' - Fans love Antony's wild Real Betis celebrations as he goes topless and waves huge flag "It was like coming home, like finding a piece of myself that I thought I had lost. With you, I started to smile again. "Thank you for welcoming me as one of your own. Thank you for giving me back the joy of playing football. "And thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with the game. My home, my people, thank you so much." Antony captioned the heartwarming post with: "My world. My people." The video started with Antony walking around an Villamarin Stadium, soaking his final days with the club who desperately wanted to keep him. He was wearing his Betis jersey, with his young kids popping up in the green and white kits too. It then showed his best match highlights, including his incredible goal against former Man Utd team-mate David de Gea at Fiorentina. Dramatic Hans Zimmer-like piano music played in the background throughout. Antony endured a torrid first half of the season in the Premier League, compounding what had been a frustrating two seasons at Old Trafford following his £86million from Ajax in 2022. While he might not be accepted back into the fold at Old Trafford, Antony attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former United boss Erik ten Hag.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Manchester United: Antony hints at transfer decision after delivering Instagram verdict on Real Betis move
Loan spell over: Antony spent the second half of the 2024/25 campaign with Real Betis (Getty Images) Manchester United winger Antony has dropped the biggest indication that his long-term future is not with Real Betis. Antony joined the LaLiga outfit on loan in January for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign and enjoyed somewhat of a career renaissance following his well-documented struggles in England. Advertisement The Brazilian netted nine goals and weighed in with five assists in 26 appearances across all competitions, helping Betis qualify for the Europa League in the process. Furthermore, he played a massive role in Manuel Pellegrini's side reaching the Conference League final - even if the journey ended in heartbreak with a 4-1 loss to Chelsea. There has been talk of Antony joining Betis on a permanent transfer this summer, but it would appear the 25-year-old has confirmed his time at the club has come to an end. In a video on his Instagram, he said: "Today is the day to thank one of the most beautiful chapters of my life. Advertisement "From the first step into this club, I felt something different. It was like coming home, like finding a piece of myself that I thought I had lost. With you, I started to smile again. "Thank you for welcoming me as one of your own. Thank you for giving me back the joy of playing football. "And thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with the game. My home, my people, thank you so much." What the future holds for Antony remains to be seen as links to Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad and Juventus have also emerged in recent days considering he is not expected to be part of Ruben Amorim's plans for next season. After losing the make-or-break Europa League final to Tottenham, Man United need to raise funds to bring players in this summer and Antony's form over the past five months has placed him in the shop window.
