Embarrassed! Antony opens up on Man Utd struggle

Brazilian winger Antony has finally open up on the struggles he faced at Manchester United following a high-profile €95 million (£82m/$111m) move from Ajax.

Antony struggled to impress at Old Trafford but has since found his form in Spain. The 26-year-old has now acknowledge that personal issues outside of football played a major role in his failure to justify his massive price tag before eventually departing for Betis.

The former Ajax star noted that despite his struggles at Old Trafford, he maintains a sense of gratitude towards the Red Devils, viewing the difficult experience as a vital catalyst for his recent professional maturity.

In a candid discussion with Globoesporte, Antony confessed: “Off-field issues have a big influence. I had some problems outside the pitch that hindered me. It was a complicated time, but it served as a learning experience and helped me mature. I don’t regret going to Manchester United, I’m grateful to the club. I learned a lot there, and being happy today at Betis is due to those difficult moments I experienced in England.”

Antony ohas rediscovered his form at Real Betis. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

During Antony’s time at Old Trafford, the winger shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo on seven occasions during the 2022-23 season, yet he developed a profound respect for the veteran’s work ethic and light-hearted nature behind the scenes.

“I learned a lot from him. He talked about life, books, various subjects outside of football. That was good because it helped me disconnect. He would say, ‘Today we’re not going to talk about football.’ And that made us learn other important things. Once in the sauna he joked with me. He showed me his physique and asked if I looked 23 years old. I was even embarrassed because you see the level of care he takes even at almost 40. He’s a role model for everyone.”

Antony is now focused on maintaining his resurgence in Spain, having contributed 13 goals and nine assists in 41 appearances for Betis this season.

He is also eager to secure a spot in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad, especially as he has not been called up to the Selecao since June 2025 and hasn’t played since a friendly defeat to Morocco in March 2023.