Manchester United sent Antony on loan to Real Betis in January for the remainder of the season.
The Brazilian winger has surprised everyone with his blistering form. He has bagged three goals and two assists in six games.
United manager Ruben Amorim admitted that Antony is thriving at his new club.
He told Rio Ferdinand in an interview with TNT Sports: “When you play against any team in England, the physicality is there.
“If you don’t have physicality, you will struggle a lot.
“Antony is so much better now in Spain. It’s [because of] a lot of factors, but I guarantee you it’s physicality.”
Antony is likely to leave permanently in the summer
Antony arrived at United in August 2022, handpicked by then-manager Erik ten Hag, who was adamant about bringing his former Ajax star to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils spent £86 million to secure his services, making him the 13th most expensive player in history at that time.
Antony became a symbol of everything that went wrong at Old Trafford after signing for the club.
He tallied just 12 goals and five assists in 96 appearances – a poor return for a player who cost so much.
Amorim gave Antony a few opportunities, but he failed to inspire. The Portuguese manager is spot-on with his assessment of Antony’s revival.
The 25-year-old had enough time to showcase his skills but let the team down every time.
It is great to see the £17 million-rated ace thrive in La Liga. The Spanish game seems to suit his style far better than the fast-paced, physical demands of English football.
United will hope that he can deliver good performances so that they can demand a higher transfer fee for him next summer.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com.
