Antony labelled a 'very special player' as Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini claims Man Utd loanee has 'matured' since leaving Old Trafford

Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini heaped praise on Antony as the Brazilian winger continues to impress in La Liga.

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WHAT HAPPENED?
Antony joined the Spanish side on loan as he struggled for playing time at Manchester United. The 25-year-old immediately impressed at Betis and has registered four goals and as many assists in just 12 matches.

THE BIGGER PICTURE
Betis have lost just one league game since Antony's arrival and the forward put in another bright performance at the weekend as Pellegrini's team beat local rivals Sevilla 2-1 - their seventh straight victory in the top-flight. The Betis boss has been happy with Antony's attitude since his move to Seville and says he understands why United spent so much to sign him from Ajax.
WHAT PELLEGRINI SAID
"Antony is a very special case. When players are paid €100 million, it's no coincidence. He must have shown important things to reach that figure. I'm not going to analyse Antony's previous time at Manchester United," he told El Largueroon Friday. "[Antony] came here convinced that he had to mature. He has more than enough potential. More than demonstrating his ability, I think he's proving to be a practical player. Doing two or three important things in a match shows what a good player he is rather than trying to do strange things with the ball. He's more focused on finishing plays well, making good crosses, looking for shots on goal, and also being very involved in the team's collective functioning."

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WHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?
Antony and his Betis co-stars have a difficult test coming up next as they face Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday.

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