Antony Breaks Down at Press Conference: I Went Through Over 40 Difficult Days in Manchester Before Final Transfer

After officially completing a permanent transfer from Manchester United to La Liga side Real Betis, Brazilian winger Antony attended the signing ceremony held by Betis and discussed various topics and situations.

On Joining Betis

I was eager to get everything done. It was an extremely tough month—I stayed in a hotel for over 40 days, really difficult days—but my agent and all the club’s directors knew how much I wanted to return to Betis. I’m delighted to stay here for a longer time; I still have many goals to achieve and many things to fight for at this club.

On His Feelings After Joining

It’s hard to sleep. I’ve never experienced anything like this. Yesterday, I saw the love from all the Betis fans, and as early as 2 a.m. today, some people were waiting outside my house. I’m very grateful to everyone—thank you to the president, thank you all, and thank Alvaro, Manu, and Ramón for all their efforts. It was a tough, tough day, but we did it. Now we’re with the club, and I want to put on the Betis jersey and fight for all the fans.

The Most Important Factor in Deciding to Return

I’m very grateful for the fans’ care. That’s extremely important to me. I didn’t come here for money; I have a lot of affection for this club—so much affection. It has always been my first choice, which is why I waited until the final days of the transfer window to complete the move. Now I’m here, very happy, in a city I love, with the people, the club, and the fans. I really want to get on the pitch and represent all of them.

On the Fans’ Reception

This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this. I told everyone that my wife has been here for four or five days, and she said to me, “I don’t know if you’ll come back, but I’m already here.” This is the first time I’ve gone through this with the fans, so when I put on this jersey, I will fight for each and every one of them.

On This Season’s Goals

As Manu said, we want to put Betis in the position they deserve. We will fight for everything—for the La Liga title, for the Europa League title… We have a very strong team, and we will always focus on achieving great things. Last season, we reached the

Europa Conference League final but lost it; that was hard, but it showed that Betis is excellent and can compete against any team.

The Days Waiting in Manchester

I arrived in Manchester on July 14 and stayed in a hotel with my father the whole time. It was difficult, but honestly, Manchester is now a thing of the past for me. I’m at Betis, and I’m focused here. I want to live a good life here and represent every fan.

This is a life process that I had to go through, because it will make me stronger. When I look at everyone here who was involved in the negotiations—Nacho, Alvaro, Manu—it means a lot, and it gives me strength. Now I’m here, I’ve signed with Betis, and I’m only focused on that.

The Importance of Faith

For me, faith is the most important thing—my faith in God. I know everything that happens in this life has a reason, and I know I had to go through those difficult days in Manchester and this process to live the day I’m living today. That’s why I’m here.

I felt anxious every day. On Sunday, all the signing procedures were ready, but we had to wait. I made it very clear that my first choice was Betis, and only Betis—no other options. I talked to my mother and sister in Brazil, and they cried because what happened in Manchester was so hard… We were apart, but that’s part of life, and I knew this incredible moment was coming. Those things are in the past; now we’re here, and this is a dream for me.

Were You Worried the Signing Wouldn’t Go Through?

To be honest, of course I was. It was difficult, and everyone worked a lot on this for weeks. But as I said before, because of my faith, I waited until the last day of the transfer window, because I knew good things would happen. I had full confidence in Manu, Alvaro, and Ramón (Sports Director and CEO), and I’m so happy to be here now.

On His Personal Goals at Betis

This is a very important year for me and Betis. There’s a World Cup next year, and I hope to return to the national team as a Betis player. A better Antony? Of course. I always set high standards for myself because I know I can do more. I will work to be better than last season—that’s the type of player I am. This is a very important year, but we have to take it easy, step by step. Now I’m going back to train with the team and get ready for the new season.