Man Utd fans have just discovered Antony is on the cusp of making European football history after wondergoal

Few would have predicted at the start of the season that Antony would put himself within reach of a little piece of European football history.

Manchester United sent Antony on loan to Real Betis in January and his upturn in form for the Seville club has created the circumstances of what could be a unique achievement.

Antony had become one of the poster boys of Man Utd's penchant for self-destruction, struggling for form under the shadow of a huge transfer fee and attracting negative headlines for various incidents on the pitch and some very serious allegations away from football.

The former Ajax winger is finding his feet again in Spain. Antony has made a big contribution to Los Verdiblancos' push for a Europa League place in La Liga and their progress in this season's Conference League.

Antony continued his resurgence with a brilliant goal for Betis in a Conference League win over Fiorentina in the first leg of the semi-final on Thursday.

The Brazilian fired a sumptuous improvised volley past former Man Utd teammate David De Gea, finding the top corner to give Betis a 2-0 lead and pointing to a tattoo across his throat that reads 'Illuminado' – enlightened.

His volley might just have lit the path to the Conference League final. If Betis can hold on to their advantage, cut to 2-1 before the end of the first leg, they will keep alive Antony's hopes of a very unusual achievement.

Antony with Ruben Amorim (Image: Getty)

The 25-year-old has played in all seven of Betis' Conference League since he joined the club on loan, scoring three times to help put them 90 minutes away from a possible final.

But why settle for one European medal when you could have two?

Antony made four appearances for United in this season's Europa League league phase and, consequently, would be eligible for a medal if the Red Devils should go on and win Europe's secondary club competition.

Ruben Amorim's United are in decent shape to make the final after Thursday's thumping first-leg win against Athletic Club in Bilbao, putting Antony closer than anybody could have expected to becoming the first player to win the Europa League and Conference League in the same season.