Manchester United were in action on Thursday night busy beating Athletic Club in the Europa League, at the same time Antony was shining for Real Betis in the Conference League.
It was an incredible night for Ruben Amorim over in Spain as he watched his professionally thrash the hosts in Bilbao in a 3-0 win. It was unlike other big wins, like the 5-4 over Lyon in the quarter-final, because Manchester United were in control the entire time.
The big win over Athletic Club by United was not the only semi-final going on in Spain with Antony and Real Betis playing against David de Gea’s Fiorentina for a placed in the Conference League final.
The meeting between the two former Red Devils was ultimately won by the Brazilian, with Antony scoring another world-class goal for Betis, this time on his right foot.
Often known for only really being one-footed, De Gea was shocked by Antony’s brilliant goal, which six goals and four assists in 19 games for the Spanish side.
Now, the focus is back on what will happen to Antony this summer.
Photo by Fran Santiago – UEFA/UEFA via Getty ImagesManchester United set Antony price tag
Loaning out Antony has worked better than Ineos would have dared to imagine, as he has quickly become a cult hero at Betis and has suitors looking at a permanent switch this summer.
Betis captain Isco has already suggested crowd funding in order to sign Antony this summer, this shows how highly the Brazilian is thought of among his peers. Now, Joaquin has suggested he would kidnap Antony to keep him at Betis, which would be an extreme measure.
Given how Antony is performing, a permanent move is likely escaping the realms of what is possible for Betis, as journalist Marcos Benito, explained to El Chiringuito TV on Friday.
It is explained that United are now hoping to get somewhere between £42m and £34m in order to sell Antony this summer.
With Betis probably priced out barring a big sale, now Atletico Madrid are in pole position and it is claimed that the La Liga giants have asked United about Antony.
Atletico have been linked with both Antony and Alejandro Garnacho ahead of this summer, with United surely very please with their interest.
Ineos’ management of Antony is a masterstroke for Manchester United
Heading into this summer, the financial situation around United is still far from comfortable, with sales expected to be made in order to help United rebuild the side.
It has been thought that United could be preparing the let 10 or more players leave permanently with Antony among those.
In the winter, there was practically zero interest from clubs in permanently signing Antony, which made for grim reading for United, considering he no longer had a place at Old Trafford.
What previously looked like a sale United might have to do at an embarrasingly low fee could now end up massively successful thanks to Ineos’ loan strategy which might see almost half the £86m spent on Antony recouped.