Manchester United could deal a cruel blow to loanee Antony at the end of the season.
Antony has joined Real Betis on a loan agreement until the conclusion of the current season during the January transfer window. He is relishing his time in Spain, having netted eight goals in all competitions since departing from Old Trafford, which includes a remarkable free-kick scored in the recent Europa Conference League semi-final against Fiorentina.
In the European tournament, Antony has contributed four goals to Betis’ campaign, helping the team secure a place in the final where they will face Premier League club Chelsea. During his post-match interview, he was visibly emotional and seemed to direct a subtle criticism towards Manchester United.
Meanwhile, his parent club, the Red Devils, have also advanced to a European final, set to compete against Tottenham in this season’s Europa League final after their triumph over Athletic Bilbao. Should Manchester United clinch their first Europa League title since 2017, the club will be awarded 50 gold medals designated for players, coaching staff, and other personnel.
Although UEFA specifies the total number of medals, it does not determine the recipients, allowing Manchester United the discretion to withhold a medal from Antony in the event of a Europa League victory. The Brazilian forward participated in four matches for Manchester United in the Europa League prior to his loan transfer to Betis.
Manchester United has advanced to their first Europa League final since 2021, when they were defeated by Villarreal in a penalty shootout. The team, known as the Old Trafford club, previously secured the title in 2017 under the management of Jose Mourinho, who led them to triumph against Ajax.
Amorim may have the opportunity to emulate his compatriot by securing a European championship for Manchester United. Following his team’s victory over Bilbao, he remarked, ‘My primary concern is the upcoming match, as I aim to avoid any injuries before the final. It is imperative that we win; otherwise, our efforts will be in vain. We shall see.’
“We have to have a full squad, that is really important. And we need to study the game quite well. And we need to have a little bit of luck. Today we suffered a goal, but we had so many transitions to score a goal and we didn’t. We have to be clinical.
“It’s quite similar for me and Ange [Postecoglou]. It’s a tough moment, one of us is going to win. But it’s going to be a big final and we are going to try to win.”
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