Antony’s Career Resurgence at Real Betis Amid Bayern Interest

Antony’s initial tenure at Manchester United was marked by disappointment, as his form—aside from a brief scoring streak in his early Premier League matches—rendered him one of the club’s least successful signings, especially given the substantial transfer fee. However, his resurgence during a half-season loan at Real Betis rekindled interest from European giants, including Bayern Munich.

The summer departures of Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman to Galatasaray and Al-Nassr created a pressing need for wingers at Bayern, prompting their recruitment team to consider Antony. During his time at Betis, he contributed significantly with 14 goals and assists across 26 appearances in La Liga and the Conference League, which led Bayern’s manager, Vincent Kompany, to reach out directly to the player—an unexpected gesture for Antony.

“I’m going to be completely honest. It really shook me up,” Antony shared in an interview with Globo Esporte, reflecting on his conversation with Kompany.

“We’re talking about a global giant, Bayern Munich, where a coach with that kind of history, Kompany, calls me. He was super polite, expressed admiration for my football, and contacted me late at night. It genuinely affected me due to the enormity of the club and the way he approached me.”

On a personal note, Antony got engaged to his girlfriend, Rosilene Silva, towards the end of 2024, shortly after the birth of their daughter. The couple, along with Antony’s five-year-old son, Lorenzo, embraced their new life in Seville, which they fell in love with following his move to Betis.

From early on, it was evident that Antony wished to return to Betis after his loan period expired. However, the complexities of the financial terms made this uncertain for an extended period. Ultimately, he opted to turn down other opportunities, including Bayern, prioritizing his family’s happiness in Seville, where his son expressed a clear fondness for their new home.

While Bayern offered a compelling route to assured silverware, being at the top of the Bundesliga table, the challenge of winning a trophy with Betis is significant, given the club’s lesser stature. Nevertheless, they have made a solid start in La Liga, positioned well to compete for a Champions League spot, having only lost two games through 12 matches.

Betis triumphed in the Copa del Rey in the 2021-22 season and narrowly missed out on a European title last season. Currently, they remain undefeated in the Europa League after four matchdays, suggesting a strong likelihood of advancing in the competition.

Antony’s form also reflects his satisfaction in Seville; he has continued his successful run into the 2025-26 season, accumulating eight goals and assists in his first 11 outings as a permanent player for Betis across various competitions.