Manchester United’s season is already shaping up to be one of intrigue both on and off the pitch.
With Ruben Amorim keen to finalise his squad, the uncertainty around several players remains a pressing issue.
United’s need to raise funds through sales has been widely reported, yet the transfer market has not produced the offers the club had hoped for.
The focus has been on reshaping the forward line, but outgoings remain just as crucial to their plans.
As the window edges closer to its conclusion, attention has once again turned to a winger whose situation is now firmly in United’s hands.
Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has addressed the possibility of a return for Antony, who enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Spanish club last season.
Both Betis and Antony are understood to be open to a second loan move, but Manchester United’s stance complicates matters.
Their preference was to sanction a permanent sale this summer for a fee in the region of €40–50 million, but no concrete offers have arrived.
In that context, Betis are hoping United may soften their stance and consider another temporary move.
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“I’ve not spoken with Antony.
“We all know that Antony was very good here, we want Antony with us, and Antony wants to return no doubt.
“But we also need the owner, which is Manchester United, to make a decision,” Pellegrini told Diario AS.
Betis have already put forward two separate proposals.
The first would see Antony return on loan, with Betis taking on the option to purchase a percentage of his rights — effectively giving United a future sell-on clause.
The second is a straight bid to buy Antony outright for €20 million, though this falls well short of United’s valuation.
Pellegrini made the comments ahead of Betis’ clash with Alaves, their first fixture at La Cartuja as they temporarily relocate while the Benito Villamarin undergoes renovations.
But the bigger picture remains at Old Trafford, where Manchester United must now make the call on whether Antony has any role left to play in Amorim’s project, or whether his future lies elsewhere.
