Antony issued a heartfelt goodbye to Real Betis as the winger's revitalising loan spell at the Spanish club comes to an end.
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Antony heading back to Man UtdThanked Betis for bringing back his smileSpanish side still hope to sign wingerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Antony enjoyed an immediate rise to stardom at Betis after joining on loan from Manchester United in January, putting an end to a miserable spell for the struggling 25-year-old. He managed nine goals and five assists as the Spanish side finished sixth in La Liga and reached the Conference League final, where they lost to Chelsea.
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The Brazil international is set to return to United as he awaits news on his future, but took time to share an emotional message to express his gratitude to Betis, saying the club and their fans helped restore his smile and love of the game in a 'magical' spell.
WHAT ANTONY SAID
"Today is the day to give thanks for one of the most beautiful chapters of my life. And as I write this page of my story, I need to say why you were and always will be so special to me," he said. "From a young age, football was not just a dream or my only chance to change my life, as so many say out there. For me it was more than that. It was my joy. While many saw football as a way out, I saw football as a way in. The only place where I felt complete. I counted the minutes to run after the ball. Playing wasn't an escape, it was a destiny. It was pure happiness. Life took me far away, from the favela to the world. I left Brazil, I played in Holland, I played in England. I stopped being just a kid and became a father. Many things changed.
"But football, football was always there. It was always my refuge. Until one day, everything fell apart. From heaven to hell. The ball stopped going in, the joy disappeared, my world darkened, and I began to doubt myself. My talent and my passion for football. That's when football gave me one last gift. You.
"When I arrived here, I didn't know what to expect. But even in my wildest dreams, I imagined finding what I found. From my first step at this club, I felt something different. It was like coming home, like finding a part of me I thought was lost. With you, I smiled again. With you, I found the child I was before. The one who loved football with all his heart. With you, football became love again. True love. Thank you for welcoming me like one of the family. Thank you for giving me back the joy of playing football. And thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with this game. My home, my people, always so much Betis."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?
Betis are still hopeful of bringing Antony back for at least one more season, with reporting they will soon meet with United to discuss a possible deal. The Seville club would prefer another loan deal with the promise of taking on a bigger percentage of his wages, but cash-strapped United are eager to sell him.
