Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has been discussing the performances of Manchester United loanee Antony after a strong start to life in Spain.
Antony endured a challenging spell at Manchester United following his arrival in 2022, and his confidence appeared low earlier this season.
As a result, Ruben Amorim opted to send the Brazilian winger out on loan, with Real Betis securing a deal to keep him for the remainder of the campaign.
So far, the move has been beneficial for all parties. Antony has regained his confidence, Betis are climbing the La Liga table, and United are seeing his market value increase.
With four goals and four assists in his first 11 appearances for the Spanish side, Antony will be eager to maintain his strong form now that club football is resuming after the international break.
Pellegrini delivers stunning Antony assessment
Antony has clearly made a great impression on the fans of Betis since his arrival, but manager Manuel Pellegrini is also extremely impressed with him.
After 11 games, the ex-Manchester City boss has claimed that it is “not a coincidence” that United paid £85 million for Antony from Ajax in 2022.
Of course, that sounds like a stunning assessment to any United fans who watched Antony play at Old Trafford, but Pellegrini believes he is a “very special player” who can still improve.
“He is a very special player, it is not a coincidence when €100 million (£85m) are paid for a player,” Pellegrini told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. “He arrived with the conviction that he had to mature.
“He has more than enough conditions; more than demonstrating his ability, he is demonstrating his functionality and his capacity to be a practical player.
“Now he is more focused on finishing the play, on taking crosses. He is showing a lot of humility and accepting the challenge of evolving in his career because he is still very young.”
Can Betis afford permanent Antony deal?
Almost all United fans will likely disagree with such a claim but any kind of success on loan for Antony is a good thing for those at Old Trafford.
It is quite clear that the level of La Liga is better suited to the player, who also seems to be enjoying his time in Spain.
The best solution seems to be a permanent move to Betis next summer for Antony, however, it remains to be seen whether they can offer enough cash for the player.
United will be wanting at least £30 million for Antony and another loan move, which seems to be the preference of Betis, seems unlikely to be accepted.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.