"What will you do, you."

Real Betis staged an upset by defeating Real Madrid 2-1 in the 26th round match of La Liga for the 2024-2025 season, held at Estadio Benito Villamarín in Seville, Spain, at 2:30 a.m. (Korea time) on the 2nd. With this victory, Betis achieved their third consecutive win and climbed to 6th place with 38 points. On the other hand, Real Madrid, with 16 wins, 6 draws, and 4 losses, recorded a total of 54 points.

The hero of the victory, Antony, started as a right winger in Betis' 4-2-3-1 formation and played the full match. He was not just a simple attacker; rather, he demonstrated dedicated play on both ends throughout the game, significantly contributing to the team's victory.

In attack, he utilized his characteristic quick feet and left-footed dribbling ability to shake up the opposing defense from the flanks. He attempted crosses while stubbornly targeting the left defense of Real, which included Ferland Mendy and David Alaba. His passing accuracy reached 92%, and he recorded two chances created, aiding his teammates' attacks.

The part where Antony shone even more that day was in defense. According to football statistics site 'WhoScored.com', Antony recorded 6 successful tackles, 1 interception, 2 clearances, and 6 recoveries, demonstrating active participation in defense. He particularly contributed to effectively blocking the left flank, which Vinícius Júnior mainly targets, preventing Real Madrid's attacks from being threatening.

Based on this performance, the football statistics site 'Footmob' awarded Antony a rating of 7.5. He received the third-highest rating among Betis players, following Isco, who scored 1 goal and 1 assist (rating 9.1), and Joni Cardoso, who scored the equalizer (rating 7.8).

During his time at Manchester United, Antony faced criticism from fans due to frequent struggles and underwhelming performances. He joined Manchester United in the summer of 2022 for a transfer fee close to 100 million euros (about 140 billion won), but received an unfavorable evaluation as a 'flop' due to frequent mistakes and predictable play.

As a result, Antony lost his opportunity this season and went on loan to Real Betis during the January transfer window. The outcome has been a complete success. After arriving at Betis, Antony regained his confidence and has transformed into a top-tier winger in La Liga thus far.

Since joining Betis, Antony has made a definite impact, recording 3 goals and 2 assists in 7 official matches. In particular, he has recovered his form entirely by recording attacking points in three consecutive La Liga matches. Moreover, he is reinventing himself as an all-around winger by fulfilling defensive roles as well.

Based on these performances, he was also named among the candidates for February's 'Player of the Month' award selected by the La Liga office. Although he did not win the award, this demonstrates that Antony is being recognized for showing consistent performance rather than just a flash in the pan.

Betis captain Isco also gave a positive evaluation of Antony's transformation. According to the British outlet 'The Athletic', Isco noted in a press conference after the match against Real that Antony has seized a new opportunity at Betis.

Isco stated, "Antony is enjoying football right now. He needed a new environment, and the atmosphere Betis provides is the best air possible," referencing not only Antony's skills but also his mental transformation.

Isco explained, "He is really working hard on the field and is committed to the team. He made a huge contribution in defense against Real Madrid as well. This aspect is a significant boost for the team."

In fact, manager Manuel Pellegrini is actively utilizing Antony and maximizing his potential. He has granted Antony a role that allows for free movement in team tactics, facilitating a much more flexible style of play compared to his time at Manchester United.

Antony, who proved his skills against Real Madrid, is now establishing himself as a key player for Betis. He has quickly adapted, already recording 2 goals and 2 assists in 5 league matches, and is solidifying his position in the team with consistent performances.

Betis is likely contemplating a long-term commitment with Antony. As it appears unlikely that his original team Manchester United will utilize him again, there are projections that Betis will attempt a full transfer. However, the demands from Manchester United might be significant.

Spain's 'Football España' reported, "The Antony deal is actually a mutually satisfactory situation, but the likelihood of a full transfer is low. There is no option for a full purchase in Antony's contract," and added, "Manchester United wants to sell Antony at any time, but the price is too high."

The transfer fee Manchester United paid to acquire Antony was 100 million euros (approximately 150 billion won). Football España stated, "Manchester United wants 50 million euros (about 74.5 billion won), which is half of what they paid." This amount would be Betis' highest transfer fee ever.

Until now, Betis' highest transfer fee was 30 million euros (about 54.5 billion won) for the signing of Denilson. The problem is that this transfer occurred in 1998. Football España expressed concern, stating, "Given Betis' significant financial difficulties, a full transfer would be challenging."

Additionally, Manchester United's manager Rúben Amorim left somewhat odd comments regarding Antony's performance. He remarked about Antony's resurgence, "He is performing well because of the difference in leagues. He lacks the physicality to play in England and struggled there." He added, "That’s why he’s performing well in Spain. It’s due to his poor physical attributes that he can perform well there."

However, Antony's camp reacted strongly to Amorim's comments. Antony's agent, Juan Pedrosso, stated, "Antony didn't gain confidence or reputation at Manchester United. Amorim did not utilize Antony properly at Manchester. How can he gain confidence without being given playing opportunities?" He sarcastically pointed out, "It’s not about physicality; it’s about the management of players at Manchester United. Could it really be that all the players who didn’t succeed at Manchester United are the problem?"

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