Manchester United may be set to receive a much-needed boost to their transfer budget this summer after Antony’s agent confirmed he is “open” to a move to the Saudi Pro League with a number of teams willing to match INEOS’ valuation of the the 25-year-old winger, according to reports.
The Bomb Squad United are desperate to shift Antony as he has been designated as part of Ruben Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ – a list of five players, including Antony, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia and Alejandro Garnacho, who all have no future under the Portuguese coach.
Antony spent the second half of last season on loan at Real Betis after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford once Amorim arrived to replace Erik ten Hag in November.
But where England proved a nightmare for Antony, Spain offered a refuge; a chance to rediscover the form which led United to pay 81 million to Ajax for the Brazilian three years ago.
Antony immediately established himself as a key part of Manuel Pellegrini’s side, scoring nine goals and providing five assists in 26 appearances. He helped propel Betis to sixth-place in La Liga, securing Europa League football next season, and the final of the Europa Conference League – the club’s first European final in its history.
The Spanish club were keen to convert Antony’s loan deal into a permanent move but United’s asking price – believed to be at least 35 million, due to the winger’s remaining book value – proved too prohibitive for them to match. Betis have explored the prospect of another loan, despite United’s preference to sell.
Antony returned to Old Trafford last month but is training separately from the first team, along with the other members of the ‘bomb squad’, who were asked to report to Carrington after Amorim and his squad had left the facility.
The Brazil international has attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen, where Ten Hag has now taken over following his dismissal from United nine months ago, and other European clubs, including Atletico Madrid, but no concrete proposals have arrived so far.
But this may be set to change with rapidly growing interest from the Middle East – and, crucially, Antony appears open to the switch.
Mutual interest with Saudi Arabia As relayed by The Peoples Person yesterday, two Saudi Pro League clubs have made advances towards signing Antony on a permanent deal. The report states Antony’s preference is to remain in Europe but that he “may be open to exploring” a swich to Saudi Arabia.
The Brazilian’s agent, Junior Pedroso, has now reportedly confirmed his client is open to the move and they will “listen” to any proposals offered.
“What I can say is that the player is on the market, and there are several clubs that want to know his current status.
“We listen to the projects and analyse them. But he is open to moving to Saudi Arabia. Anything is possible, we are looking for what is best for him,” Pedroso revealed to Qatari sports outlet WinWin(as relayed by Tribuna).
A Saudi side would have little trouble matching United’s valuation nor any problem presenting an attractive financial package to a Brazilian international about to enter his prime who was one of the standout performers in Spain this year.
In return, United would receive a welcome boost to their budget in exchange for a player with no future at the club whose transfer constitutes one of the most egregious pieces of business at Old Trafford in living memory – and that is saying something.
It would truly be a win win all round.
Feature image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
