'I lost my son's first steps' - Antony lifts lid on pain of Man Utd spell after sealing summer exit

When Antony joined United from Ajax in August 2022 for €94m (£82m/$110.7m), expectations were sky-high. But the dream quickly soured. Over two seasons, he managed just 12 goals and five assists in 90 Premier League appearances, struggling to justify his price tag amid criticism and scrutiny. What followed was a period of complete disconnection, both professionally and personally.

In an interview with ESPN Brazil, Antony revealed how he was ostracised from the first team before his eventual move to Real Betis. “I reported back on July 14 and trained separately for more than a month. It was very complicated. For more than 40 days we stayed in hotels. Me and my father were there, waiting. I trained at five in the afternoon while the group trained in the morning,” he said. “I felt there was a lack of respect, even a lack of education. Nobody said good morning or good afternoon. Not even that,” he added.

That sense of isolation, he explained, tested his patience and belief. “It was a moment to test myself, to believe. I knew that something good would happen, even if doubts crossed my mind."

Beyond the football pitch, Antony’s emotional struggle ran deeper. The winger opened up about the personal cost of his time in England - being away from home and missing out on key family moments. “I lost my son’s first steps because I was away. That hurt a lot,” he said, reflecting on what he calls the most painful memory of his United spell.

His family, however, became his anchor. “They reminded me: it’s difficult now, but it was harder in the slums, when you slept on a sofa. That helped me see the good side of things,” he shared, crediting their resilience for helping him stay grounded.

While Antony’s Old Trafford chapter ended in disappointment, he insists it shaped him for the better. “Maybe if I had exploded right away, I might have lost myself later. It was necessary to go through that process. Today I feel like a better man, a better father,” he reflected.

He even revealed a lesser-known detail - that before joining the Red Devils, he was close to signing for Liverpool. “Before closing with United, I was very close to Liverpool. But the path was meant to be what it was,” he said.

Antony’s revival story began in Spain. His loan spell at Real Betis during the first half of 2025 reignited the spark that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young wingers. He scored nine goals and registered five assists in 26 appearances, helping Betis reach the Conference League final.

Impressed by his form, Betis made the move permanent this summer, signing him for around €25m (£21m/$29m) on a deal until 2030, with United retaining a sell-on clause. This season, Antony has already played five matches across competitions.