Brazilian winger Antony has revealed that his January loan move to Spanish side Real Betis was the boost his career needed after an underwhelming spell at Manchester United.
The 24-year old joined the Laliga outfit on loan till the end of the season from the Red Devils after struggling to make an impact since joining in 2022, from Ajax Amsterdam for £80 million under former Dutch boss Erik Ten Hag.
Antony scored his second goal in three games for Real Betis in the 3-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the Spanish Laliga on Sunday, and has praised the move as a career-defining one.
“For me it was very important to start well.” Antony said. “I found myself again. When we are happy, when we work happy, things come naturally.
Every day I wake up smiling and I go to sleep smiling, and that for me is the most important thing.”
The on-loan Manchester United attacker made his debut for the Spanish side in the 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao on the 2nd of February, and has been voted as the player of the match in all of his three appearances.
“I needed to be happy with myself … It’s like us in Brazil. The sun also helps a lot, the city, which here is better, and well, I’m very happy here”, he continued.
“It’s very good, but I’m going for more,” he said. “Yes, I’m very happy to have been the MVP in those three LaLiga games, but, as I said, the most important thing for me is the team, that it wins, that everyone is happy.”
Antony will hope to continue his brilliant start to life when Real Betis host Belgian side Gent in the second leg of the Europa League playoffs, with a 3-0 advantage from the first leg.

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