{"id":95286,"date":"2025-07-26T23:27:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T23:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/95286\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T23:27:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T23:27:20","slug":"saudi-clubs-step-up-interest-in-man-utd-86m-winger-amid-uncertain-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/95286\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Clubs Step Up Interest in Man Utd \u00a386m Winger Amid Uncertain Future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Saudi Clubs Circle Antony\u2019s Situation<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"159\" data-end=\"539\">Manchester United winger Antony is drawing interest from two top Saudi Pro League clubs, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skysports.com\/football\/news\/11667\/13401501\/antony-transfer-news-man-utd-winger-subject-of-interest-from-saudi-pro-league-sides-with-real-betis-move-unrealistic\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sky Sports<\/a>. The Brazilian\u2019s future at Old Trafford appears increasingly uncertain, especially after a productive loan spell at Real Betis last season. However, despite Betis\u2019 willingness to extend the relationship, a permanent move seems unlikely due to financial constraints.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"541\" data-end=\"816\">\u201cAntony thrived at Betis,\u201d Sky Sports noted, highlighting his impressive tally of nine goals and five assists across 26 appearances. Yet with Betis unable to afford a full transfer and only open to another loan, United are understood to be holding out for a permanent deal.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"0\" width=\"0\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pixel.carambo.la\/Pixel\/nfld18\/113181\/0\/1\/0\" style=\"display:block;width:0;height:0;\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ten Hag Reunion Off the Table<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"863\" data-end=\"1192\">Antony\u2019s old boss at Ajax, Erik ten Hag, now at Bayer Leverkusen, appears to have ruled out a reunion for now. Although early links suggested a potential move to the Bundesliga might be on the cards, Ten Hag told German media: \u201cWe are not interested at the moment\u201d, before hinting that \u201cwe\u2019ll see what happens in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-101151 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/imago1038323521h-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\"  \/>Photo: IMAGO<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1348\">The quotes suggest Leverkusen may have balked at the financial demands from United, who are keen to recoup part of the \u00a386 million they paid Ajax in 2022.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1350\" data-end=\"1511\">Bayern Munich have also been monitoring Antony\u2019s availability, but their current focus remains on strengthening the left wing, not the right, where Antony plays.<\/p>\n<p>Real Betis Reunion Unlikely<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1551\" data-end=\"1899\">Despite his positive impact in Spain, Antony\u2019s time at Betis is likely over \u2014 at least for now. The La Liga side remain interested, but only in another loan. That falls short of what United are seeking, particularly during a summer where the club are actively reshaping the squad to improve financial flexibility and free up space for new signings.<\/p>\n<p>Saudi Move Gathering Momentum<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1941\" data-end=\"2170\">With options narrowing in Europe, Saudi Arabia may now represent the most concrete opportunity. According to Sky Sports, \u201cthe interest from Saudi Arabia is thought to be increasing and Antony maybe open to exploring the idea.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2172\" data-end=\"2445\">However, the player is understood to prefer staying in Europe, meaning any offer from the Saudi Pro League would need to be compelling both financially and professionally. For now, Antony appears content to wait, weighing up what could be a pivotal next step in his career.<\/p>\n<p>Our View \u2013 EPL Index Analysis<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2578\" data-end=\"2944\">As a United fan, it is difficult not to view Antony\u2019s situation with a mix of disappointment and realism. When he signed for \u00a386 million under Erik ten Hag, expectations were sky-high. But inconsistency and off-field noise have left him in a grey area. While his stint at Betis offered glimpses of quality, it says something when even they can\u2019t justify a full move.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2946\" data-end=\"3239\">From a financial perspective, United need to make shrewd sales this summer. If the Saudi Pro League is offering a clean exit route and decent money, the club should absolutely take it. Sentiment has no place when a rebuild is on the table, especially under a new sporting leadership structure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3241\" data-end=\"3512\">As for Leverkusen, Ten Hag saying \u201cwe are not interested at the moment\u201d is pretty telling. Even his former mentor is cautious, and that alone should raise eyebrows. The potential of another loan would just kick the can down the road and stall squad development further.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3514\" data-end=\"3802\">Many United fans are starting to accept that Antony might never justify his price tag. He\u2019s had chances, and while his flair occasionally sparks, the end product hasn\u2019t matched the investment. If Saudi clubs want him, and Antony agrees, it might be the best move for all parties involved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Saudi Clubs Circle Antony\u2019s Situation Manchester United winger Antony is drawing interest from two top Saudi Pro League&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":95287,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[62787,62788,62789,62790,62791,62792,1322,62793,62794,62795,62796,3906,62797,62798,61325,62799,62800,62801,221,62,62802,67,132,68,62803],"class_list":{"0":"post-95286","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer","8":"tag-antony-transfer-update","9":"tag-bayer-leverkusen-transfer","10":"tag-betis-loan-success","11":"tag-epl-index-analysis","12":"tag-erik-ten-hag-transfer-targets","13":"tag-european-transfer-market","14":"tag-featured","15":"tag-football-rumours","16":"tag-leverkusen-not-interested","17":"tag-man-utd-rebuild","18":"tag-man-utd-squad-changes","19":"tag-man-utd-transfer-news","20":"tag-manchester-united-winger","21":"tag-premier-league-outgoings","22":"tag-premier-league-summer-window","23":"tag-real-betis-loan","24":"tag-saudi-clubs-interest","25":"tag-saudi-pro-league-transfers","26":"tag-soccer","27":"tag-sports","28":"tag-united-selling-plans","29":"tag-united-states","30":"tag-unitedstates","31":"tag-us","32":"tag-winger-transfer-update"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}