Manchester United’s transfer history since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement is infamous for even masterstrokes turning into mistakes but Antony has entered the opposite territory for Ineos.
From signing Angel di Maria as a huge coup to him leaving in a whimper soon after, or the signing of Paul Pogba that never worked out, there are countless examples of masterstrokes turning into mistakes.
When Man Utd loaned Antony to Real Betis in January, it was with acceptance that their move for the Brazilian had failed so it was good to cut costs, far from a mistake.
However, United did make what was considered a mistake in the terms of that loan then but it has now aged as a masterstroke.
Man Utd’s Antony mistake now a masterstroke
United negotiated Antony’s move to Betis from a position of extreme weakness. Ruben Amorim didn’t fancy the player, Antony was not producing anything, and his transfer fee hung over him like a dark cloud.
Therefore, Antony’s brilliant form at Betis has come as quite a surprise to Man Utd fans, with his teammates even calling for crowdfunding to buy him!
That came after Betis wanted to extend Antony’s loan by a year, clearly playing hardball over paying United a transfer fee.
That is where United’s mistake has turned into a masterstroke because the club now holds all the cards unlike in case of someone like Marcus Rashford.
United didn’t negotiate a buy option for Antony which was disappointing at the time because everyone was convinced that the Brazilian would fail in Spain and return to United in a much worse condition.
Now that Antony has flourished at Betis, the lack of a buy option is giving sleepless nights to Betis executives as they break their silence on his transfer.
Real Betis on Antony transfer
Betis are facing immense pressure to buy Antony permanently which plays right into United’s hands, who can spark a bidding war now that Betis don’t have a buy option.
Richer teams like Atletico Madrid are interested in Antony which strengthens United’s hands, and Betis are now recognising that reality.
Fabrizio Romano has reported Betis director Fajardo conceding that they will try everything possible to buy Antony, a message that will come as music to the ears of United.
He said: “We go try in different ways do everything possible we fit do to keep Antony next season. We’re proud of what we achieved by signing Antony and bringing him at Betis.”
The game of poker has begun and after Betis’ stubborn initial stance, they are the first ones to blink. Fortunately for United, the club holds all the cards due to their “mistake” of not negotiating a buy option then.
That is ageing like masterstroke!
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