Real Betis fans, players, and staff alike have become quite taken with Manchester United loanee Antony following his move to the Spanish club back in January, so much so that first-team star Isco has called for a crowdfunder to keep him there permanently.
Since arriving at the start of the year, the Brazilian winger has gone on to score four and assist just as many in 12 games across all competitions, which is quite the return compared to just a dozen goals in nearly a century of appearances for Man United.
Whilst the former Real Madrid midfielder was only being half-serious, as hit stats since joining the Seville-based side speak for themselves, he couldn’t have been more sincere in his hopes of keeping Antony at the club for “at least another year.”
Speaking to DAZN following a huge win in the Seville derby – the club’s first victory against Sevilla in the league since 2018 – Isco made it abundantly clear that he and the rest of the team want and need his new attacking partner to stay.
The 32-year-old, who has linked up with Antony on a number of occasions already, told reporters: “We have to crowdfund so he can stay at least another year. We’ve noticed a change since he arrived – he brings us a lot.”
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Betis might not be the biggest or wealthiest club in Spain, but remaining within the European places (currently sixth) could prove crucial to their spending this summer, with making Antony’s loan permanent or at least extending further undoubtedly top of the list given the impact he’s had since arriving.
Nevertheless, the biggest problem when it comes to potentially buying the 25-year-old is his salary, as the £86 million signing from Ajax brought to Old Trafford by Erik ten Hag is said to be earning in excess of £100,000 a week.
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At present, Real Betis are said to be covering 84% of his wages, and while he’s definitely been worth the financial outlay so far, securing his services full-time could prove fairly tricky and/or costly.
His time at United hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing, as not only were there big questions marks around his price tag from the off, but he’s been a divisive member of the squad, to say the least.
Not only has he struggled to make a regular impact in the Premier League goal with just one goal and three assists since his arrival back in September 2022, but he’s also been ridiculed for some of his ‘unnecessary’ antics. Meanwhile, he’s looked like a player reborn at Betis:
Fellow first-team talisman Isco went on to add, “I’m happy to have Antony here. He’s surprised us all with his humility and desire to help.”
Both he and Betis are said to have made it expressly clear that they’d like for his future to remain at the Villamarin Stadium, and it’s fair to say that plenty of United fans wouldn’t mind cashing in on him if possible – some probably more keen than others.
It’s also worth noting that Antony was embroiled in another controversy after being accused of domestic assault, though the charges were ultimately dropped back in August 2024.
Regardless, what supporters make of him is largely irrelevant at this point, as head coach Ruben Amorim will be looking to rebuild the squad with players of his choosing as much as possible come the summer.
That being said, the club has warned that incomings during the transfer window are dependent on sales, meaning letting Antony could make sense for all parties involved, as United are likely looking to better balance their books following Jim Ratcliffe’s revelations regarding the state of their finances.
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What do you think, Reds? Would you sell him, or are you hoping he brings that form back to Manchester?
Unfortunately, Betis fans, we’re not sure where a crowdfunder would fit in with FFP and PSR rules, so you might just have to hope United and Antony are willing to play ball.
Isco and Antony were two of Real Betis’ biggest threats against Sevilla.
Featured Images — DAZN (screenshot)/Ardfern (via Wikimedia Commons)
Sport
Four players set to leave Salford City as club confirms retained list
Danny Jones
Salford City FC have announced their retained list for next season as this year’s EFL campaigns come to a close, with four players confirmed to be leaving the club.
It’s been another up-and-down year for the Ammies, with Karl Robinson’s side ever so narrowly missing out on the playoff places despite looking like they might just sneak in only a fortnight ago.
The Greater Manchester club has somewhat plateaued following their streak of promotions in the immediate years following the Class of ’92 buyout – even Gary Neville himself admits they’ve “lost some momentum” – but with another new era beckoning, who knows what the next few years hold?
One thing that we do now know is which players will be staying at the Peninsula Stadium, with Salford City revealing the four names set to depart upon the contract expiry this summer.
Following a sixth consecutive League Two season, Robinson and the administration will no doubt be looking to once again freshen up the squad in the coming transfer window.
That being said, while the likes of ‘Player of the Year’ Ossama Ashley, and fellow first-team stars Haji Mnoga and Luke Garbutt all seeing their deals extended into at the very least 2025-26, not mention seven new contracts offered to new players, they will be losing some key players and fan favouries.
Right-back Liam Shephard has also decided to join those parting ways with the Ammies head of next season, with many fans gutted to see the popular squad member heading for the exit door.
The club are going about sharing farewell videos for each of them, knowing full well a few will feel tought to take for some supporters.
Thank you for the past 4 years Shep ❤️
Across 92 games, a nearly 50% win percentage along with 4 goals and 13 assists, we thank @Liam_Shep2 for all his hard work 🫡 pic.twitter.com/G2cPLYx9hx
Crediting all of them for the years of service, especially given the roles that many of them played in helping Salford reach the playoffs in the 2022/23 season, the club expressed their gratitude to the senior quarter for their contributions.
Meanwhile, in terms of the youth set-up, there due to be even more departures, including the likes of Callum Morton, Jez Davies, Marcus Dackers, Sandro Da Costa and more.
You find out the full details from the 24/25 retained list HERE.
With a second modern takeover of Salford City having just been confirmed this month, the new ownership group will be looking regain some of that monentum Neville talked about and bring in replacements for the outgoings as they look to continue climbing the pyramid.
Ex-Salford Red Devils CEO steps back in to try and save the club from collapse
Danny Jones
Former Salford Red Devils CEO, Paul King, has flown in to help his former employers as the rugby league side hopes to rescue itself from the brink of complete collapse.
Paul King only left Salford Community Stadium and the Red Devils in February, being replaced by Chris Irwin, but since the latter resigned this month and promises of financial security still look far from coming good, the 54-year-old is back in the fold and trying his best to save the 152-year-old club.
Salford were the subject of a Swiss takeover earlier this year, which looked like it might beckon a whole new era for the long-established local team, but despite claims of clearing debts and righting the ship by businessman Dario Berta, it turns out that little has been done to fix the books since then.
In fact, as it turns out, Salford’s line of credit only appears to have been extended as the Devils are thought to be rather deep in the red (a rather cruel irony) with payday loans taken out to pay player wages and keep them afloat. With that in mind, King has come back to do what he can.
While the new consortium is yet to deliver key funds, King is taking the fall. (Credit: Salford Red Devils via Facebook screenshot)
As per multiple outlets, King has now returned to Salford in an ‘advisory role’, consulting on how best to navigate the persisting choppy water surrounding the club.
Although the club has so far refrained from making any kind of announcement of their own – the last being the confirmation of chief exec Irwin’s departure on 6 May – it’s understood that King has actually been continuing to help cover costs ever since he left.
The man himself has downplayed his impact thus far, stating that he’s simply “been pulled in from gardening leave to advise, that’s all”, insisting that “it’s all very short-term.”
However, despite no longer being actually a full-time member of staff at Salford Red Devils, he is said to have been paying player wages for the last three months and
Even more concerningly, though it will no doubt touch fans to hear, he is also believed to have put his own home up as collateral against what the club owes to lenders; it’s not even the first time he’s done this, either.
Former CEO Paul King is back at Salford Red Devils in an advisory role.
It's understood King paid the player wages for the past three months.
👹 The Devils are still waiting on significant funds from their new owners.
In a modern sporting era where owners, consortiums, nation states and so on are often criticised over their stewardship of clubs, this kind of generosity and hustle from a man who isn’t even technically employed by the business has to be applauded.
That being said, it’s no surprise that their struggles off the pitch have translated to performances as well, with Salford sitting at the bottom of the Betfred Super League table, having notched just one win this season. Some stability is needed, and soon.
Here’s hoping it all pays off – a community club that’s been around so long and means so much to the local area cannot be allowed to disintegrate.
Meanwhile, over in the EFL, neighbours Salford City FC have also seen their ownership change hands as they hope to avoid similar uncertainty in this next chapter. The sporting-obsessed city and its countless supporters have no intention of giving up on their teams.
Danny Jones -
31st March 2025 
