Antony left Manchester United on loan in January after failing to live up to expectations following his £80 million move from Ajax in 2022.
The Brazilian winger, who was signed by Erik ten Hag, struggled to justify his hefty price tag across 96 appearances for the club.
Now at Real Betis on a five-month loan, he has already started to rediscover his best form.
Antony scored for the third consecutive game on Sunday, helping Betis secure a 3-0 win against Real Sociedad.
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Speaking to RTV Betis, as reported in Estadio Deportivo, he admitted that this move was exactly what he needed.
“I found myself again,” Antony said.
“When we are happy, when we work happy, things come naturally.
“Every day I wake up smiling and I go to sleep smiling, and that for me is the most important thing.”
Antony’s struggles at United saw him fall down the pecking order before his loan move in January.
Despite winning the FA Cup and EFL Cup at Old Trafford, he felt his time there had run its course.
“I was playing little, but, as I said, I was working hard every day,” he added.
“I am very grateful for my time in Manchester, where I had difficult moments, but also very good ones.
“But here, when I say that I found myself, it’s about the happiness.”
A key factor in his resurgence at Betis has been the influence of head coach Manuel Pellegrini.
“The confidence he [Pellegrini] has given me is incredible and I am very grateful,” Antony told RTV Betis.
“Before arriving here, I spoke with the coach, and that gave me a lot of confidence.
“Not only the coach, but the players too have been very supportive.”
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Antony has been named MVP in each of his three league appearances so far but insists he is not getting carried away.
“Yes, I’m very happy to have been the MVP in those three LaLiga games,” he said.
“But, as I said, the most important thing for me is the team, that it wins, that everyone is happy.”
Betis, currently eighth in LaLiga, will now turn their focus to Thursday’s Conference League playoff second leg against Gent.
United fans will be hoping Antony continues to perform at this level for the remainder of the season.
It is unlikely he fits into Ruben Amorim’s system as a wing-back or narrow 10.
A move away once his loan expires would be the best outcome for all parties, especially if United can sell him for a high fee.
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