- Red Devils spent big on South American star
- Have deemed him surplus to requirements
- Summer sale expected to be sanctioned
(C)Getty Images'Easy to be star man in Dutch league' - Man Utd warned off Antony return as Brazilian forward 'never looked great' despite impressing for Ajax & on loan at Real Betis

Fubo
✅ Carries ESPN Deportes, which broadcasts over 200 select LaLiga matches per season with traditional linear presentation and studio coverage.
✅ Includes local ABC stations and main ESPN channels for the high-profile marquee matches that are simulcast over traditional television.
✅ Allows you to record matches with unlimited Cloud DVR storage and stream up to four channels simultaneously on compatible TV devices.

DirecTV
✅ Carries local ABC stations and the main ESPN linear networks for marquee, nationally televised LaLiga fixtures without requiring an antenna.
✅ Offers ESPN Deportes either via the dedicated Spanish-first tiers (such as Óptimo Más) or as an add-on, giving you live TV commentary and dedicated studio coverage.
✅ Includes unlimited Cloud DVR storage and allows simultaneous streaming on unlimited compatible devices connected to your home network.

ESPN+
✅ Streams all 380 LaLiga fixtures throughout the season in both English and Spanish, including every El Clásico fixture.
✅ Provides full match replays, extended highlights, and Spanish football studio shows (such as LaLiga Confidential and ESPN FC) accessible whenever you want.
✅ Bundles Spanish top-flight football alongside extensive European and domestic action, including the German Bundesliga, Copa del Rey, and FA Cup.

Fubo
✅ Carries ESPN Deportes, which broadcasts over 200 select LaLiga matches per season with traditional linear presentation and studio coverage.
✅ Includes local ABC stations and main ESPN channels for the high-profile marquee matches that are simulcast over traditional television.
✅ Allows you to record matches with unlimited Cloud DVR storage and stream up to four channels simultaneously on compatible TV devices.

DirecTV
✅ Carries local ABC stations and the main ESPN linear networks for marquee, nationally televised LaLiga fixtures without requiring an antenna.
✅ Offers ESPN Deportes either via the dedicated Spanish-first tiers (such as Óptimo Más) or as an add-on, giving you live TV commentary and dedicated studio coverage.
✅ Includes unlimited Cloud DVR storage and allows simultaneous streaming on unlimited compatible devices connected to your home network.

ESPN+
✅ Streams all 380 LaLiga fixtures throughout the season in both English and Spanish, including every El Clásico fixture.
✅ Provides full match replays, extended highlights, and Spanish football studio shows (such as LaLiga Confidential and ESPN FC) accessible whenever you want.
✅ Bundles Spanish top-flight football alongside extensive European and domestic action, including the German Bundesliga, Copa del Rey, and FA Cup.

Fubo
✅ Carries ESPN Deportes, which broadcasts over 200 select LaLiga matches per season with traditional linear presentation and studio coverage.
✅ Includes local ABC stations and main ESPN channels for the high-profile marquee matches that are simulcast over traditional television.
✅ Allows you to record matches with unlimited Cloud DVR storage and stream up to four channels simultaneously on compatible TV devices.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Devils splashed out £85 million ($114m) when prising Antony away from Ajax in 2022, with Erik ten Hag reuniting with a player that he knew well from his title-winning spell in Amsterdam.
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
After making an encouraging start to life at Old Trafford, Antony quickly went off the boil - as unfortunate headlines were made on and off the pitch - and the decision was taken to send him out on loan to Real Betis in January 2025.
DID YOU KNOW?
The South American winger has thrived in Spain, with more admiring glances being shot in his direction ahead of the summer transfer window, but the 25-year-old is still considered to be the wrong option for his parent club.
GettyWHAT RENE MEULENSTEEN SAID
Ex-United coach Rene Meulensteen has told Action Network: “I would not bring him back that is for sure. He never looked great here and the boy’s performances are fueled with the wrong personality. That’s his problem.
“You can’t compare the Premier League with La Liga. The Premier League is totally different and it’s a total misjudgment from Erik ten Hag, they bring in players that they know (previously) and they don’t necessarily understand the environment they bring them into. It is easy to be the star man in the Dutch league because you can’t compare (the level). I wouldn’t bring him back.”
TELL ME MORE
Meulensteen added when asked what legendary United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would have done with Antony: “He would never have brought him because one of the things that we know in Sir Alex’s time at the club, there were players that came and left who weren’t up to it. There is always some kind of gamble, but you try to minimize that gamble.
“One thing that Sir Alex was always big on was what kind of personality was I bringing into that squad? Because he created that environment and work rate and working is the greatest quality and if you don’t have it you don’t belong here.
“That got taken over from the likes of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs. When anybody came in, they had to get on into that same format as quickly as possible otherwise it would fall on the wayside.”
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?
Antony is under contract at Old Trafford through to 2027, with that deal including the option for a 12-month extension. The expectation is, however, that United will look to sanction a permanent move elsewhere in the next transfer window.
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