Antony labelled 'the best signing in Betis history' after starring role in Nottingham Forest draw as director explains difficult Man Utd negotiations

Antony has picked up right where he left off at the end of last season, continuing his strong form by rescuing Real Betis in their opening game of the Europa League on Wednesday. The score was 2-1 in Forest's favour – thanks to a brace from Igor Jesus after Antony's assist set up Cedric Bakambu to break the deadlock in the 15th minute – as the game approached full-time. The ex-United winger, though, proved why him and Betis are a match made in heaven, as he scored the important equaliser in the 85th minute.

After the game, Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo couldn't contain his euphoria after witnessing Antony's exploits at the Benito Villamarin. "I am 100% sure that maybe Antony is the most important signing in Betis' history," Fajardo told PA news agency.

"Everything [about the signing] because the talent, the level of the player, the level of the club as Manchester United – a big team, a big project, so I am 100% sure that Antony is the best signing in Betis' history.

"When players like Antony come to Betis, it's very, very important. It helps Betis to continue growing in Europe. Last season since Antony arrived, we got to play in a European final.

"Antony, players like Gio [Lo Celso] and Isco, are very, very important because they are the example that Betis continues growing, that we are a serious club in Europe and players in the top level want to come to play in Betis."

After stunning during his loan spell at the club in the second half of the season, Antony pushed hard for a permanent move to Betis. The love he received from the Betis faithful and the confidence shown by head coach Manuel Pellegrini meant that he was unwilling to entertain a switch to any other club. With United demanding €40 million (£35m/$46m), Betis' hopes of signing Antony diminished due to their inability to fork out that amount. However, United and Betis agreed on a cut-price €25m (£22m/$29m) fee, which saw the Brazil international return to Seville on a five-year deal. 

Fajardo provided insights on how the two clubs reached middle ground after intense negotiations. "We started to discuss with Manchester about Antony in May, June because we needed a lot of time for convincing Manchester," Fajardo said. "But Antony, the agent, his family were convinced to come to Betis again.

"In the first moment we spoke with Manchester United for Antony to stay in Betis one year more on loan. But for Antony, for Manchester it was very, very important to recover the investment, so for Betis it was not easy. The move was too much for us [from a financial standpoint].

"But Manchester United made a big effort, Betis made a big effort, Antony made a big, big effort to play here again. Maybe in that situation that was the secret.

"For Betis it is not easy to sign players from Premier League, because the difference in respect to the salary between the Premier League and La Liga is too big. But when a player like Antony, for example, wants to come to Betis it's easier. Antony only thought to play in Betis again, so when you have a negotiation with a big club in Manchester United, a club that paid a big amount for Antony, it's not easy. But the player wants to play in Betis."

Antony is off to a flyer with his new side, while Pellegrini's men are just two points behind the top four in La Liga. The left-footed right-winger will be expected to lead Betis' attack once again when they welcome Osasuna on Sunday.