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Manchester United star Antony has sent an emotional farewell message to Real Betis and the Spanish club’s supporters following his successful loan spell.
Antony failed to break into Ruben Amorim’s plans after slipping down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag, leading to a January loan move to Real Betis.
The Brazilian found it very hard to justify his £86million price tag, only managing a mere 17 goal contributions in 96 appearances for United.
However, his fortunes took a dramatic turn at Betis, where he hit the ground running and quickly won over the fans, many of whom have made it clear they want him to remain at the club.
Antony notched nine goals in 26 appearances for Betis, playing a crucial role in their sixth-placed La Liga finish and their run to the Europa Conference League final, where they eventually lost to Chelsea.
Amid uncertainty over his future, Antony has shared an emotional video on Instagram, thanking Betis for helping him rediscover his love for the game.
Speaking over a series of his Betis highlights, Antony said, “Today one of the most beautiful chapters of my life closes. And before I turn the last page, I need to tell you why you were and always will be so special to me.”
“Since I was little, football wasn’t just a dream or my only chance to change my life. As many people say. For me, it was much more than that. It was my joy.”
“While others saw football as a way out, I saw it as a way to reach my destination. The only place where I felt complete. I counted the minutes until I could chase the ball.”
“Playing wasn’t an escape. It was destiny. It was pure happiness. Life took me far from the favela to the world. I left Brazil, played in Holland, in England, stopped being just a kid, and became a father. Many things changed.”
“But football, football was always there. It was always my refuge. Until one day, everything fell apart. From heaven to hell. The ball stopped coming in. The joy faded. My world turned dark. And I began to doubt myself, my talent, my passion for football.”
“And that’s when football gave me something else – you. When I arrived here, I didn’t know what to expect. But not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine finding what I found. From my first step at this club, I felt something different.”
“It was like coming home, like reconnecting with a part of me I thought I’d lost. With you, I smiled again. With you, I became that kid again. The one who loved football with all my heart. With you, football became love again. True love.”
“Thank you for opening the doors to me as if I were one of the family. Thank you for giving me back the joy of playing. Thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with this game. My home. My people. Mucho Betis. Always.”
Antony’s farewell message could hint that a move to Betis may not materialise, though it’s still too early to say for certain. Several of his Betis teammates, including Marc Roca and Isco, also appeared to be bidding him farewell in the comments of his post, further fueling speculation.
Antony has also been linked with potential moves to Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad, and Juventus.
Featured image Fran Santiago via Getty Images
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