Antony is on fire after the 100 million euro price tag

Once labeled a “flop” after a €100 million deal with Manchester United, Antony seemed to have lost his shine and the trust of fans. However, at Real Betis, the Brazilian is rewriting his own destiny.

In the modern football universe, numbers often determine fate. 100 million euros - the figure that pushed Antony into a spiral of huge expectations, harsh pressure and ultimately, failure at Manchester United. But sometimes, it is the stories that seem to have ended that open up the most brilliant beginnings.

From Sao Paulo whirlwind to Manchester disappointment

When Erik ten Hag gambled his career on bringing Antony to Old Trafford, he believed he had found the perfect fit – a technical, fast and creative right winger. What Sir Alex Ferguson once called “the flying angels” – the ones who would go on to form Manchester United’s legacy.

The reality was too cruel. Antony was not Fred or Andreas Pereira - Brazilian players accepted because expectations were not too high. He arrived with the label of a star, with the pressure to prove himself worthy of the 100 million euro price tag. His trademark turns gradually became harmless, his long-range shots became the subject of ridicule on social media.

“Flop” – that label stuck with Antony, pushing him from stardom to liability. And when off-field problems emerged, things got even worse. The ruthless world of football was ready to forget the name Antony.

Just when Old Trafford was about to give up, a phone call from Manuel Pellegrini - Real Betis' veteran strategist - changed everything. Betis is not a rich team, they are just looking for forgotten talents to recreate. Like Luis Alberto, Nabil Fekir, Isco or now Antony.

“What do you need to find yourself again?” Pellegrini asked. The answer was simple: belief. That is something Betis are willing to give the Brazilian, without asking him to prove anything right away.

Antony is on fire with Real Betis.

Sevilla - the city of bullfighters and Flamenco, where passion is at the heart of everything - became the perfect place for Antony to revive. Here, people did not see him through the prism of numbers, they saw only a player with talent and burning desire.

The blue and white team of Sevilla found the best version of Antony in their historic Conference League journey. Not immediately, not without challenges, but gradually, "Tonny" (as his teammates called him) returned.

Four goals and three assists may not sound like a lot, but the quality and timing of them is something else. The two against Fiorentina in the semi-final were a testament to the class that still exists: the volley from outside the box past David de Gea, the free-kick that silenced the Artemio Franchi. And the pass that split the Fiorentina defence for Abde Ezzalzouli to score the winner confirmed that Antony of old Ajax was back.

The moment the Brazilian star fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face after the second leg of the semi-final, was not just a momentary emotion. It was the sum of sleepless nights in Manchester, of harsh comments, of feeling abandoned. And also a moment of liberation - when a player finds himself again.

Reborn with the Andalusian soul

In a recent interview, the legendary Joaquín - the living symbol of Betis - called Antony "Antonio de Triana", after the famous Sevilla neighborhood. It was not just a playful nickname, it was a recognition that the Brazilian player was truly part of Betis, of Sevilla, of this proud Andalusian land.

"When he called me that, I felt like I was born here," Antony said. "The Seville people gave me something more precious than money: respect."

Antony is showing his worth at Real Betis.

And the Betis fans responded with unconditional love. They cheered every time he touched the ball, they sang his name over and over again, not because of his flashy turns, but because they saw real commitment. At Villamarín, Antony was no longer a “100 million dud” – he was just Antonio, the son of Triana.

As Betis reach the Conference League final – the first European final in the club’s 117-year history – Antony has the chance to make history in a rare way. If Manchester United win the Europa League and Betis win the Conference League, he will become a double European champion in the same season – a feat that even the most famous superstars have failed to achieve.

Pellegrini, with his vast experience, revealed: "I have never seen a player who struggles with himself as much as Antony. Every training session, every match, he seems to be proving something - not to me or his teammates, but to himself."

And that is the secret of this revival. Antony is no longer struggling with the transfer fee or the pressure from outside, he is simply finding joy in football again. When the shackles are removed, when trust is given, the truly talented player will shine.

Summer is approaching, and with it comes tough decisions. Manchester United, despite their revolution under the new INEOS regime, are faced with the question of what to do with their €100m investment. Meanwhile, Betis, with limited resources, must find a way to keep hold of their new star.

Perhaps the answer lies in Antony's own words: "I cried, many times. With my mother, my wife, my brothers. We went through a very difficult time to get to this moment. I thank God for bringing me to where I belong."

"Belonging" - two simple words but full of meaning. For a player who has tasted enough pressure and disappointment, finding a place where he belongs is worth much more than lucrative contracts.

Whatever the future holds, Antony - or Antonio de Triana - has left an indelible mark on Real Betis history. Not through fame or transfer value, but through all that is purest about football: passion, dedication and the desire to rise from the ashes.

In Antony’s story, we find the eternal lesson of football: no defeat is final, no glory is permanent. Only those who dare to rise after falling deserve to be recorded in history. And in Sevilla, under the name of Antonio de Triana, a star is reborn brighter than ever.

Source: https://znews.vn/antony-ruc-chay-sau-cai-gia-100-trieu-euro-post1552219.html