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Antony: From Man Utd Struggle To Betis Hero

Antony: From Man Utd Struggle to Betis Hero

Real Betis had never made it past the quarter-finals of a European competition before reaching this season’s Conference League final

Such has been Antony’s impact on loan at Real Betis from Manchester United, the Spanish club’s players are seemingly willing to go to any lengths to keep the Brazilian winger.

“Antonio of Triana,” started the sinister-sounding message on the Instagram page belonging to Betis captain Isco. “We’re going to kidnap you: this is your first warning.”

It was not long before the second followed as former Betis winger Joaquin got in on the joke by adding: “If I have to provide the car to kidnap him, I will. However it happens, he has to stay.”

It is no wonder Betis want to keep hold of the 25-year-old.

Since his loan move from Old Trafford at the end of January, the Brazil international has helped transform the club’s season.

They moved from ninth in La Liga to sixth and a spot in the Europa League, with Antony also instrumental in taking them to their first European final – when they face Chelsea in the Conference League on Wednesday in Wroclaw, Poland.

‘We’ve seen him cry, we’ve seen him laugh – Betis fans love that’
In 25 matches since he joined, Betis have won 13 and drawn eight, losing only four. Their 51 goals in that time is at a rate of better than two a game and Antony has directly contributed to 14 of them, with nine goals and five assists, including scoring in both legs of the dramatic semi-final victory over Fiorentina.

Betis won 4-3 on aggregate after extra time as Antony, who had grabbed the winner in a 2-1 first-leg home win, netted a wonderful free-kick in Florence and then created the decisive goal for Abde Ezzalzouli to leave Betis on the brink of club history and a first European trophy.

“Antony is already a hero in Betis,” said Spanish football expert and BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague. “They love a player that’s a bit different, or one that has struggled and finds happiness in Seville.

“Seville is a place for bull fighters. They like the bull fighter that goes off script and does things his own way – and Antony is that kind of player so they absolutely love him. He has been effective and taken the team to another level.

“Betis have given the man love and confidence, played him in the right position and played him all the time. He has been absolutely brilliant and he has been emotional.

“We saw a very cold guy at United, since he has gone to Betis and things have been working, we’ve seen him cry, we’ve see him laugh and Betis fans love that.”

‘I couldn’t take it any more’ – Antony on Man Utd struggles
Antony was one of the first signings made by Erik ten Hag when he became the United manager in 2022, after the pair had won successive Dutch Eredivisie titles together at Ajax.

The fee of £81.3m (95m euros, rising to a potential 100m euros), meant Antony became the second most expensive player in United history – behind Paul Pogba.

It began well. Antony played 44 games in 2022-23, scoring eight goals with three assists, and started in United’s Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle.

In the following campaign 17 of his 38 appearances come as a substitute, and he was an unused sub in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City. That downturn continued in 2024-25, with him not starting a Premier League match before his move to Spain.

“I couldn’t take it any more,” said Antony earlier this week in an emotional interview with TNT Sports Brazil.

“I wasn’t happy, I didn’t feel that desire to play football, and I needed to find myself and be happy again. Playing football was always something I loved – I went through difficult times when I no longer felt that pleasure.”

In his last 44 games for Manchester United in the Premier League, Antony registered three goal involvements (one goal, two assists). He only needed four La Liga matches to beat that, scoring twice and making another two goals

Then United manager Ten Hag said in January last year that Antony’s form had been impacted by off-field issues.

The Brazilian was the subject of a police investigation after allegations of domestic abuse were made against him by three women. He denied the allegations, spoke to Greater Manchester Police voluntarily and was not arrested or charged in either Brazil or the UK.

Antony said his unhappiness affected his family life, describing the period as “very hard days for me”.

He added: “I was at home, not having the strength to even play with my son, going days without eating, staying locked in my room.

“It was very complicated, but thank God, with the help of my family and mainly with the help of God, I managed to get ahead and today I am very happy here.”

However, Balague does not expect Betis to be able to keep Antony because of the transfer fee United would demand.

“Manchester United won’t sell for less than 50m euros and Betis will be in Europe, but I think Antony belongs at Champions League level,” Balague told BBC Sport.

“They are going into the final with the idea of having nothing to lose. They’re in their first final, have a lot of quality, compete really well, battle for everything, follow the ideas of [coach Manuel] Pellegrini and their best players are reaching their best level.

“They are a formidable team, but Chelsea are favourites. Betis should enjoy the last minutes with Antony because he probably won’t stay.”

‘Antony doesn’t fit Amorim’s system’

Antony’s loan move has worked in one sense, he has impressed and now clubs will be much more likely to be keen on signing him – Real Betis would clearly like to have him back.

However, his wages remain high for a club like Betis, so whether he goes back there depends on a deal being done – either with the Brazilian over a wage reduction, or United to offer some kind of subsidy.

The real problem is the price tag if it comes to a permanent sale.

It is fairly obvious the club has no chance of getting the £81.3m they paid for him back. He still has two years left on his initial five-year contract, so for amortisation purposes, United still need to sell him for £32.52m – otherwise they make a loss.

Quite aside from his poor form since joining from Ajax, as a wide player, Antony doesn’t fit Ruben Amorim’s system. We know there are going to be huge changes at Old Trafford this season, it is impossible to think Antony will still be at the club after the transfer window closes on 1 September.

As with many United players this summer, the key is how quickly a deal can be done – and how much it will cost.

Bbc.com

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Why Serie A Defenders Should Fear Victor Osimhen’s Potential Return, According To Ex-Napoli Star Mario Rui

Victor Osimhen celebrating a goal for Napoli in Serie A.

Why Serie A Defenders Should Fear Victor Osimhen’s Potential Return, According To Ex-Napoli Star Mario Rui

Former Napoli defender Mario Rui has issued a playful but serious warning to Serie A defenders: prepare for chaos if Victor Osimhen ever returns to Italy.
And honestly? He might be right.

The Super Eagles striker has already carved his name into Italian football history — and Rui believes his return would immediately shift the balance of power in the league.

“Victor Can Play For Any Top Club In The World” — Rui

Speaking to Tutto Sport, Rui didn’t mince words about Osimhen’s talent.
During Napoli’s iconic Scudetto-winning season, Rui and Osimhen formed one of the league’s most dangerous attacking connections.

Rui said:

“Look, Victor is someone who can play for any top club in the world. It would be a problem for Serie A if he returned.”

He even singled out Juventus, suggesting Osimhen’s presence alone could drastically transform their squad value and title chances.

Osimhen’s Legendary Impact In Italy

In case anyone forgot — Osimhen wasn’t just good in Serie A… he was historic.

  • 26 goals in the 2022/23 season

  • First African to win the Capocannoniere

  • Surpassed George Weah as Serie A’s highest-scoring African

  • Led Napoli to their first league title in 33 years

He left Italy with 65 Serie A goals in just 108 matches — a monster return for any striker.

Then He Went To Turkey… And Got Even More Lethal

On loan at Galatasaray, Osimhen didn’t slow down.
He exploded.

  • 37 goals

  • 8 assists

  • 41 matches

  • Another league title

  • And a renewed reputation as one of Europe’s deadliest forwards

No wonder Rui believes he can dominate “anywhere in the world.”

What Osimhen’s Potential Return Means For The Global Sports Market

If Osimhen ever steps back into Serie A:

  • Player valuations shift

  • Broadcast attention spikes

  • Sponsorship opportunities multiply

  • Market interest in Nigerian and African players increases

He isn’t just a striker — he’s a sports market catalyst, capable of shaping commercial and competitive landscapes.

And that’s exactly why Sports Market International tracks stars like him closely.
Because players like Osimhen don’t just score goals — they reshape economies.

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Mikel Arteta Tight-Lipped On Declan Rice Fitness After Arsenal Midfielder Hobbled Off In Brentford Win

Declan Rice limping off the pitch during Arsenal’s match against Brentford

Arsenal fans held their breath midweek when Declan Rice unexpectedly hobbled off during the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Brentford. And if anyone was expecting a clear update from Mikel Arteta, they certainly didn’t get one.

Ahead of Arsenal’s crucial trip to Villa Park, the Spanish manager remained intentionally cryptic — and for good reason. Arsenal’s injury list is growing, and every hour seems to matter.

Arteta Says: “Let’s See” — Patience Required On Rice

Rice has become the engine, heartbeat, and battery pack of Arsenal’s midfield since arriving from West Ham. His presence is so crucial that even a minor niggle triggers panic across North London.

Although Rice himself told reporters he felt “fine” after the match, Arteta isn’t rushing any verdict.

According to the manager:

“We have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players.”

Translation: Nobody knows anything yet — even him.

Arsenal’s Defensive Crisis Deepens

And Rice isn’t the only concern.

Arteta also confirmed that Cristhian Mosquera is facing an uphill battle for the Villa clash. With Saliba and Gabriel already sidelined, losing Mosquera too would leave Arsenal’s defensive unit looking like a Jenga tower leaning on hope and prayers.

Arteta put it bluntly:

“That’s the more complicated one… we need to corroborate with all the testing today.”

Meanwhile, hopes remain higher for William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, with the manager saying their situations are “a matter of days.”

January Window Already Open In Arteta’s Mind

Despite spending over £250 million in the last transfer window, Arteta hinted Arsenal may need to dip back into the market — especially with injuries hitting key departments.

“We always have to be prepared… we need to be open for it.”

In football language, that usually means one thing: Phone lines will be busy in January.

Fixture Congestion? Arteta Shrugs It Off

Playing midweek at Brentford and facing Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime is hardly ideal, but Arteta kept his cool.

“We are ready for tomorrow’s game, that’s for sure.”

Whether his squad physically is… that’s another story.

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He Gives Us Energy: William Saliba Hails Mastermind Behind Arsenal’s Defensive Dominance

William Saliba and Gabriel Heinze during Arsenal training session

Arsenal’s defensive dominance in the Premier League has a new driving force behind it, according to William Saliba. The French centre-back has hailed Gabriel Heinze, Mikel Arteta’s new first-team coach, as the mastermind behind the Gunners’ impressive backline.

Since joining Arteta’s staff in July, Heinze has brought his trademark intensity and energy to Arsenal’s training ground, helping a side that has conceded just seven goals in 14 Premier League matches — the best defensive record in the division.

Heinze’s Influence On The Gunners

Speaking to the Men in Blazers Media Network, Saliba described Heinze as a constant presence around the defenders:

“Gabriel Heinze helps a lot, especially the defenders. He gives us energy because he’s always talking, always loud — even in training when we do simple things, he’s always loud. Even for nothing, he will be loud! He talks a lot and it’s good to have him close to us. I think this guy can help us a lot.”

Saliba’s comments paint a vivid picture of Heinze as a demanding coach, whose booming voice and relentless standards lift the entire defensive unit.

Arteta added context to Heinze’s appointment, noting their long-standing friendship and mutual trust:

“He’s a winner. He’s won in many clubs he’s been at. We’ve known each other for 23 years, I’m very close to that. It brings something extra.”

He praised Heinze’s tactical insight and complementary personality:

“We complement each other really well, and everybody brings a different insight, a different character, a different personality, to the table that makes us a much better team.”

A Winning Pedigree

Heinze’s coaching approach is rooted in a winning playing career. From PSG to Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Marseille, the former defender was known for hard tackling and relentless duels. Since retiring in 2014, he’s built a coaching résumé across South America and the U.S., including stints at Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Juniors, Velez Sarsfield, Atlanta United, and Newell’s Old Boys.

Testing Defensive Resilience

Heinze’s influence comes at a time when Arsenal’s defense has been hit by injuries. Key centre-backs Saliba and Gabriel have been sidelined, forcing Arteta to deploy makeshift partnerships like Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, and Jurrien Timber. Despite the reshuffling, Arsenal still secured a 2-0 victory over Brentford, proving the defensive organisation and resilience Heinze has instilled.

Arteta commented on the injury situation:

“He (Saliba) had a little niggle, so I think it’s going to be a matter of days. Big Gabi is doing very well as well, but that’s weeks as well.”

With Heinze bringing energy, intensity, and tactical sharpness, Arsenal’s defensive stability continues to impress, even amid injury crises — a testament to the Argentine coach’s impact on the Premier League leaders.

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