A 100 million star advised to stay at MU despite being 'rejected' by Amorim

Antony disclosed that Matheus Cunha had encouraged him to stay at Man Utd prior to his transfer to Real Betis.

Antony's future at Manchester United officially ended last summer, but the Brazilian player recently shared an interesting detail: his compatriot Matheus Cunha tried to persuade him to stay at Old Trafford before his departure.

After returning to Manchester following his loan expiration, Antony expressed his wish to leave the club. However, he revealed that Matheus Cunha, a new signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers, attempted to convince him to stay. “Matheus Cunha wanted me to stay and play alongside him, but by then things had become too difficult. I hold him in high regard, but the decision was already made,” Antony shared with AS.

While negotiations between Man Utd and Betis were ongoing, Antony was forced to train separately at the Carrington center, a clear sign that he was no longer part of coach Ruben Amorim’s plans.

“I didn’t speak much with him. The decision for me to train alone was already set, and I had to respect it. Still, I trained hard to maintain my fitness. After three months, I played a full 90 minutes, which was the result of continuous effort,” Antony added.

Antony, a 100 million Euro signing under coach Erik ten Hag, was expected to become a key attacking piece for the “Red Devils.” However, after two underwhelming seasons, he failed to meet the expectations of the management and fans. When Ten Hag was dismissed in October 2024, Antony’s future at Old Trafford was nearly sealed.

The arrival of coach Ruben Amorim further destabilized the Brazilian player’s position. The Portuguese strategist built a tactical system based on a 3-4-3 formation and favored attackers who cut inside rather than traditional wingers like Antony. This made him redundant in the team’s personnel plans.

During the January 2025 transfer window, Antony was loaned to Real Betis, a turning point that helped him recover his form. In La Liga, the 25-year-old performed impressively with 9 goals and 5 assists, playing a major role in Betis reaching the Conference League final. This convincing display motivated Betis to pursue a permanent transfer in the summer.

Leaving Man Utd quietly, Antony seems to have entered a brighter new chapter where he is trusted and able to play his own style, something he lost at Old Trafford.