Aasai

Antony is making waves in Spain, and Manchester United is surely watching closely. The Brazilian winger, who swapped Old Trafford for the sunnier climes of Seville during the January transfer window, continues to shine on loan at Real Betis – and hes doing it with a flair that’ll leave United fans questioning what could have been.

Before his January exit, Antony was struggling to make a meaningful impact at Manchester United, with a solitary goal from 14 appearances – a penalty against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup back in September. It wasn’t the sparkling start many had hoped for when he made his high-profile move from Ajax, and it felt like the perfect time for a change of scenery.

Fast forward to Sunday night, and the 24-year-old Brazilian is strutting his stuff in La Liga. In his fourth match for Betis, Antony opened the scoring in a 3-0 victory over Real Sociedad. The goal came courtesy of a beautiful volley through a forest of defenders, leaving Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro with little chance. What’s more, this wasn’t a fluke – that goal marked Antony’s third in just four appearances for the Spanish side. Not bad for someone who seemed to be running out of time at United.

Antony’s performance hasn’t just been a confidence booster for him, it’s also sent a very clear message back to Manchester United. With Betis enjoying a solid loan spell, questions are swirling about Antony’s future. Could he make a permanent move? Does he have a future at Old Trafford? Will United regret letting him go? The speculation is running wild, and for good reason.

However, it’s important to note that while Antony’s future is unclear, there is no clause in his loan deal that would allow Betis to purchase him outright at the end of the season. Antony will return to Manchester United at some point – for now, that’s a certainty.

That said, theres still some wiggle room for United. Premier League rules state that loans must last a minimum of 28 days, meaning that United could technically recall Antony as early as February 22, should they decide they need him back at Old Trafford. But lets not jump to conclusions just yet – its not clear whether the loan agreement included a recall clause, so Antony might stay put until the summer.

In any case, Antony has already made his point: hes still got it. If Manchester United weren’t paying attention before, they certainly are now. His spell at Betis could turn out to be the best thing for his career – and who knows, it might even lead to a stronger, more mature Antony returning to Manchester later this year.

Stay tuned, because this transfer saga is far from over – and if Antony keeps firing on all cylinders, the Red Devils may have to rethink their strategy when he returns