Antony breaks silence on relationship with Ruben Amorim after Man Utd boss shipped £86m flop out on loan to Real Betis
ANTONY has opened up on his relationship with Ruben Amorim after the Manchester United manager sent him out on loan in January.
Antony, 25, was loaned out to Spanish side Real Betis in the winter window after failing to live up to his mega £86m price tag at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian has returned to his form of old in Spain, registering eight goal contributions in 16 appearances for Betis.
It’s a vast improvement on his numbers at United, where he scored just one league goal across the last two seasons with the Red Devils.
Now the former Ajax winger has explained that he holds no bad blood with Amorim for shipping him out, instead complimenting the Portuguese manager for the little time they did spent working together.
He told ESPN Brazil: “I’ve only had a short time working with [Amorim], but he’s a very good coach. A very intelligent coach.
“United are going through a difficult time at the moment, but he’s a good coach.
“I had a good relationship with him, but I needed a new challenge and I wish him all the luck in the world in this final stretch of the season.”
Antony gave a similarly glowing review of Erik ten Hag, who signed him for United in 2022 and managed him during his time at Ajax.
He added: “Erik ten Hag is a coach I’m very grateful to.
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“He helped me a lot in the Netherlands, and in England too, even though the opportunities didn’t come the way I wanted to.
“But that’s the coach’s choice, I don’t hold any grudges or anything. On the contrary, I’m very grateful for everything he’s done with me, for all the conversations too.
“He’s a coach who will certainly be in this story because he helped me a lot.”
Antony is clearly enjoying his time at Betis and Betis CEO Ramon Alarcon recently claimed that the star wants to extend his stay at the Villamarin Stadium.
While United boss Amorim has suggested that Antony’s revival might be down to Spanish football‘s less physical style.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: “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.”