The brilliant performance of two stars once 'discarded' at MU

Previously forgotten at Manchester United, Marcus Rashford and Antony are experiencing a strong revival in La Liga, dazzling in the colors of Barcelona and Real Betis.

Once considered “surplus” at Manchester United, Marcus Rashford and Antony are now impressing fans with their remarkable comeback. Both left Old Trafford amid disappointment, but in La Liga, they are rewriting their own stories with brilliance, confidence, and ambition.

Marcus Rashford is the first name to catch the attention of football enthusiasts. After a prolonged slump at MU, few expected the English striker to revive his form so impressively at Barcelona.

Joining the Catalan club on loan, Rashford quickly adapted under Hansi Flick’s guidance. In the 3-1 victory over Elche on the early morning of November 3, the 27-year-old star once again shone by netting the decisive goal, confirming his recent excellent form.

Since the start of the season, Rashford has scored 6 goals and provided 7 assists in 14 matches across all competitions, a performance far superior to his struggling period at Manchester. His confidence, pace, and clinical finishing have returned, making him a key attacking threat in Flick’s squad. This explosive form has led many Barcelona fans to urge the club to activate the purchase option at season’s end.

Not only Rashford, another player once forgotten at Old Trafford is also “reviving” in Spain — Antony. On the same early morning, the Brazilian star shone brilliantly in Real Betis’s 3-0 win over Mallorca in La Liga’s 11th round.

Antony scored two stunning goals in the first half: first, a precise long-range shot outside the box in the 10th minute, followed by a classy left-footed curl in the 34th minute that left goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom helpless. Not stopping there, the former MU player assisted Abde Ezzalzouli to seal the 3-0 win in the 37th minute.

So far, Antony has contributed to 7 goals for Betis (5 goals, 2 assists), an impressive tally for a player once heavily criticized in England. This stellar performance helped Betis end a three-match winless streak and climb to 5th place in the La Liga standings.

From doubted players at Manchester United, Rashford and Antony are now proving they remain top-class stars. La Liga, once a foreign land, has become the place where both rediscover their true selves.