Antony Reveals Truth About Life in Man United’s ‘Bomb Squad’
Antony has opened up on his Manchester United hell prior to sealing a return to Real Betis this summer.
The Brazilian, an £82 million signing at United in 2022, never got going after reuniting with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford - scoring just 12 goals in 96 appearances.
But he was given a new lease of lie in Spain with Betis, where he scored 10 goals and registered five assists after signing on a loan deal until the end of the season back in January.
The former Ajax winger did then complete a permanent transfer to the Andalusian outfit on transfer deadline day on 1 September but only following a period where he was out in limbo at United.
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Antony had returned to the club following the end of his loan spell but was not exactly welcomed back into the first-team environment.
Along with Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia, Antony was placed in a 'bomb squad' by Ruben Amorim and not allowed to train with the first-team.
In fact, the group could only be present at the Carrington training complex when the main group were not there.
Antony, Sancho, Rashford and Garnacho all secured transfers away, with Malacia staying put and reportedly earning a recall to the first-team set-up after impressing with his attitude.
But in a new interview, the 25-year-old has opened up on the difficult experience where he felt "disrespected" by United and was forced to live in a hotel.
“They were very tough months in England, more than 40 days in the hotel, training separately… I feel like they disrespected me, but that’s not the point,” Antony told Onda Cero, as per Sport Witness.
“I don’t want to create controversy; that’s life. I’m very grateful for the club; there were bad times, but also good times, with two titles.
“My family travelled to Seville four or five days before the deal was finalised; I had the house rented.”
In what proved to be a tricky transfer to arrange, Antony returned to Betis on a permanent basis for a fee of £21.65 million - penning a deal until 2030.
He's made four appearances so far this season, scoring once in 341 minutes of action.
Antony is hopeful that if he is able to replicate his form at the end of last season, he will put himself in contention to make Brazil's squad for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It would be a second appearance at a World Cup after was part of the squad in Qatar in 2022.
“It’s a dream. I played in a World Cup, and of course I dream of playing in it a second time," he added.
"It’s always great to represent your country. I’m going to do my job, like I’m doing, and I hope to be in the squad.”
Josh Lawless