Real Betis reject £42.7m Antony bid, costing Manchester United £13m sell-on windfall

Manchester United will not receive an expected £12.8m windfall after Real Betis rejected a €50m (£42.7m) bid for winger Antony, according to ABC. A sell-on clause negotiated when the Brazilian left Old Trafford entitled United to roughly 50 percent of any profit Betis generated from a future sale — a figure that would have amounted to around €15m (£12.8m) given the Spanish club paid €21m for him permanently.

Betis declined the offer, with reports indicating the club consider Antony integral to their squad and lack the financial flexibility to source a suitable replacement. The identity of the bidding club has not been disclosed.

Antony’s time at United was widely regarded as one of the most disappointing signings of the modern era. The winger arrived from Ajax in the summer of 2022 for £81m but managed just 12 goals in 96 appearances before joining Betis on loan and subsequently on a permanent basis — a transfer that crystallised a substantial loss on the original outlay.

The 25-year-old has since been linked with a move to Turkey, with Besiktas reportedly exploring him as an alternative to Mohamed Salah, who joined Trabzonspor. Last summer, Bayern Munich were also credited with interest before Antony opted to make his Betis loan permanent.

Speaking about that decision, Antony acknowledged the weight of Bayern’s approach while explaining his reasoning for choosing Seville. “That was, of course, a great honour. I have great respect for Bayern Munich and also for Vincent Kompany,” he said. “When a club like Bayern shows interest and the coach calls personally, it means a lot to a player.”

“It was a decision I made together with my family. I was going through a difficult time in my life and needed a place where I could be happy again — not just as a footballer, but also as a person. I felt that Betis was exactly the right club for me.”

Antony also addressed the upcoming Champions League campaign, which marks a landmark moment for the Seville club. “This is something very special for the club and our fans. They have waited many years for this moment,” he said. “I want to win titles — that’s always my biggest goal. I also want to improve my stats, score more goals, and provide more assists. But above all, I want to help the team and have an even better season than last year.”