Antony has excelled on loan at Real Betis since arriving from Man United in the January transfer window.
Antony joined Real Betis on loan in January.(Image: Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images.)
Real Betis chief executive Ramon Alarcon has confirmed the Spanish club would like to extend Antony’s loan spell by a further year.
The Brazilian joined the La Liga outfit on loan for the remainder of the season from Manchester United during the January transfer window, offering him the opportunity to get his career back on track after a period of stagnation at Old Trafford.
Antony has grasped the opportunity to play regularly with both hands, scoring seven goals and registering four assists in 20 appearances in all competitions. He has also played a key role in putting Betis on the cusp of reaching the Europa Conference League final.
The winger scored their second goal in last week’s 2-1 semi-final first leg victory over Fiorentina, meaning they are in charge of the tie ahead of the second leg on Thursday night in Italy.
With his loan spell at the Villamarin Stadium approaching its conclusion, Alarcon has outlined Betis’ desire to keep Antony, but has accepted United will make a decision that suits them and the player the best.
“Obviously, if someone comes with a very high offer, he’s a great player for Manchester [United], and they have the final say,” Alarcon told El Desmarque. “But we’ve always worked with respect.
“Every week, Manu Fajardo, who has done a spectacular job, has sent them the report from the player’s week of training, the tactical and physical report from the player’s match, and they’ve seen that we’ve taken very good care of their asset.
“We also have to value the player’s commitment, as he has 20 days left with the team and is like one of the team members. We’ll see when summer arrives if there’s an option to bring him in for another year.
“If not, we’ll have to look for someone else, because the important thing is really to be a team player. If it’s not Antony, it will be someone else, but we have to keep competing.”
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