Ex-Manchester United winger Antony has come forward to share how the criticism he faced at Old Trafford had a profound effect on him. The pressure he felt was heightened by the substantial transfer fee paid by the Red Devils: approximately €95 million (£82 million) in 2022.
After a difficult spell in England, Antony made the move to Real Betis, where he enjoyed the best season of his career. In the 2025/26 campaign, he scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists in 46 appearances, earning recognition as the best player in the Europa League according to Sofascore.
In an interview with Sofascore, Antony opened up about the expectations linked to his hefty transfer fee.
The Brazilian said:
Of course, responsibility increases when such a massive sum is paid for you. But I always tried not to focus on those figures. I understand they didn't spend that much for no reason.
Antony admitted that he couldn't completely shield himself from the criticism:
Many think it didn’t affect me at all, but it certainly did—very much so. People talk about things without really knowing the person. They hear something on the telly and instantly start discussing it.
The forward reflected on how his attitude towards such opinions evolved over time:
If even Jesus was perfect, yet people still spoke about him and treated him the way they did, then of course they will talk about me as well.
Antony also reminisced about his last weeks at Manchester United. After a successful spell on loan at Betis, he returned to England but had already set his sights on continuing his career in Spain.
The winger elaborated:
When I spent three months here and then went back to Manchester, I realised I wanted to return. I felt a special connection to Betis. My heart was telling me to come back here.
However, the transition took longer than expected, forcing Antony to train separately from the main United squad for a while.
He shared:
I spent over 30 days training alone in Manchester. Spending more than a month in a hotel is not easy. Thankfully, my dad was with me during that time.
Despite interest from other clubs, Betis remained Antony's top priority.
He emphasised:
My first option was always Betis. I wanted to regain my form and be happy again. Each passing day here reaffirms that I made the best choice.
Nonetheless, Antony doesn’t regard his move to Manchester United as a mistake, despite the challenges he faced in recent years.
He added:
I made many friends, achieved a lot, and won trophies—those things are important.
