Manchester United loanee Antony said that his move to Real Betis was what his career needed, saying: “I found myself again”
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Antony: “I found myself again” at Real Betis
The Brazilian forward joined Betis in the winter transfer window on a five-month loan from United.
Since then, he has scored for the third straight game in Sunday’s 3-0 league win against Real Sociedad.
Antony said that he is happy to find his old form with the Spanish club.
“For me it was very important to start well,” he told RTV Betis. “I found myself again. When we are happy, when we work happy, things come naturally.
“Every day I wake up smiling and I go to sleep smiling, and that for me is the most important thing.”
“It’s about the happiness”
Antony’s £80 milliontransfer from Ajax in 2022 made him the second-most expensive signing in United’s history.
However, he only scored just 12 goals in 96 games although won the FA Cup and EFL Cup in Old Trafford.
Although Antony is grateful for his time in United, he said that he needed to find happiness in playing football.
“I was playing little, but, as I said, I was working hard every day,” he said.
He added: “I am very grateful for my time in Manchester, where I had difficult moments, but also very good ones. I won two titles [FA Cup, EFL Cup] with United, and I am very happy for that. But here, when I say that I found myself, it’s about the happiness.
“I needed to be happy with myself … It’s like us in Brazil.
“The sun also helps a lot, the city, which here is better, and well, I’m very happy here.”
Antony also credited his smooth transition in Spain to coach Manuel Pellegrini.
“The confidence he [Pellegrini] has given me is incredible and I am very grateful,” he said. “Before arriving here, I spoke with the coach, and that gave me a lot of confidence. Not only the coach, but the players too have been very supportive.”
Antony has been voted MVP in all three league games he has played for Betis but says there’s still more to come.
“It’s very good, but I’m going for more,” he said. “Yes, I’m very happy to have been the MVP in those three LaLiga games, but, as I said, the most important thing for me is the team, that it wins, that everyone is happy.”
