Antony revival boosts Real Betis dream of first Euro trophy

SEVILLE – Standing between Chelsea and the Uefa Conference League trophy is Real Betis winger Antony, and that means significantly more than it did five months ago.

The Brazilian, 25, escaped his Manchester United nightmare in January as he joined the La Liga side on loan, looking to rebuild a career that had stalled miserably at Old Trafford.

He became the Red Devils’ second-most expensive player ever when he joined from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for £81.3 million (S$142 million), but flopped badly under former manager Erik ten Hag. The pressure at United grew to be too much for the forward.

“Only I know what it was like to be there at home, not having the strength to even play with my son, going days without eating, staying locked in my room,” he told TNT Sports Brazil ahead of the final.

“I told (my brother) that I couldn’t take it any more.”

Antony has revealed that he emerged from a Brazilian favela, playing without boots and against drug dealers, developing a hard shell – so to suffer so much in Manchester is particularly striking.

Once exciting youngster Amad Diallo emerged, ten Hag’s successor Ruben Amorim was happy for him to depart, with Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis taking the gamble and try to kick-start a season which was flagging.

The fit could not have been better for both player and club, as they helped each other get back to their best. With three goals and an assist in his first four games for Betis across all competitions, Antony was smiling again.

“It’s very easy to play with him. He has incredible talent, he makes good decisions,” Isco said of his teammate.

With the Spanish playmaker clicking with the Brazilian, Betis flourished by finishing sixth in La Liga. They booked a place in next season’s Europa League and might have gone one better if not for fighting on two fronts.

While the Conference League does not mean a great deal to two-time Champions League winners Chelsea, for Betis it would represent a significant accomplishment as they have never brought home a European trophy.

Betis lifted the Copa del Rey in 2022 but have won nothing else in the last two decades.

“I had offers but when Betis appeared, I felt a certainty in my heart,” said Antony, with Pellegrini helping refill his exhausted morale.

“He gave me so much confidence,” the attacker added.

The veteran coach also helped Antony work on his end product, whereas in England he was often mocked for his penchant for tricks.

In return, Antony brought goals, assists and a touch of elite quality that clubs like Betis cannot usually access.

“It’s not just by chance that Manchester United paid (that much) for him,” noted Pellegrini.

Antony struck in both legs of the semi-final win (4-3 on aggregate) over Fiorentina to take Betis to the final in Wroclaw, Poland, and has nine goals and five assists in 25 appearances for the club.

“We went through very difficult times to be enjoying this moment today,” said the forward, explaining his tears following the triumph over the Serie A side.

Of course Betis would dearly love to keep him permanently at the Benito Villamarin, although the price would be an issue – but Isco has been brainstorming, even suggesting “kidnap” to keep the attacker.

“We need to crowdfund so he can stay at least another year,” joked the midfielder.

Betis fans will also badly hope for the same. AFP