From flop to hero 

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Once derided as one of the Premier League’s most expensive failures, Antony appears to have rediscovered the form that made him one of Europe’s most exciting young wingers during his time at Ajax. The Brazilian, who initially joined Real Betis on loan from Manchester United then on a permanent €22 million fee in the summer, has thrived in Seville to the point where Transfermarkt have upgraded his market value from €30 million to €40 million in the latest LaLiga market value update. Which means his market value has exceeded his Ajax peak of €35m for the first time since he left the Dutch giants for Old Trafford in 2022.

Speaking on episode two of the Market Values podcast, Transfermarkt’s Stefan Bienkowski, Manu Veth and Tobias Kröger discussed what has driven Antony’s turnaround in Spain. The trio pointed to LaLiga’s contrasting demands compared to the physicality of the Premier League, with Veth arguing that the move to Betis was “perfect” for the 25-year-old and that he has developed into one of the best players in the league outside of the traditional big three. Kröger, meanwhile, drew parallels with other technically gifted players who have struggled to adapt to English football, suggesting that Antony’s difficulties at Manchester United were as much about the environment as the player himself.

As for what comes next, it’s certainly agreed that Antony’s future is an open question. With a World Cup on the horizon and rumoured interest from Atletico Madrid, there is no shortage of potential next chapters for the winger. But as Kröger noted, given how well things are going at Betis – a club competing in European football and building genuine momentum – there may be a strong case for Antony to stay put and let his performances do the talking.