Fabrizio Romano confirms Manchester United winger Antony and Rashford are close to completing €100m deal

Fabrizio Romano confirms Manchester United winger Antony and Rashford are close to completing €100m deal

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Manchester United winger Antony is close to joining Real Betis on a dry loan until the end of the season, with no buy option included.

 

 

Discussions are underway to finalize the move, and Antony has agreed to the terms. Real Betis, currently 11th in La Liga, have been seeking a winger this January, and Antony now seems to be their solution.

 

Manchester United have been working for weeks to offload Antony following his underwhelming performances since his €100 million transfer from Ajax in the summer of 2022. His struggles at Old Trafford, despite being a favorite of former manager Erik ten Hag, have led to this decision.

 

 

Initially, United set an asking price of €50 million to sell Antony this month but found no takers. Instead, they opted for a loan move, hoping Antony can rebuild his value with improved performances at Betis. This could pave the way for a potential permanent transfer in the summer of 2025.

 

Antony’s time at United has been nothing short of disappointing. In his debut Premier League season, he managed just four goals and two assists, far below expectations for a player of his price tag. His second season was even worse, with just one league goal and one assist.

 

Despite his struggles, Antony enjoyed consistent starts under Ten Hag, who shielded and supported his former Ajax star. However, following Ten Hag’s sacking, the winger failed to earn the trust of the new manager, who has rarely used him this season.

 

The Brazilian has started no Premier League or Europa League games this term, logging just 83 league minutes off the bench. Across all competitions, Antony has managed only 400 minutes in 14 appearances, scoring a solitary goal.

 

United hope that a successful loan spell at Betis can spark a turnaround in form and possibly reignite interest from other clubs. For now, Antony will aim to revive his career in Spain and demonstrate why he was once considered a €100 million talent.

 

Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the race to sign Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford has now narrowed down to just two clubs: Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona. This development comes after AC Milan, once favorites to secure the forward’s signature, have reportedly pulled out.

 

 

 

AC Milan Withdraws

 

AC Milan had been considered the frontrunners to sign Rashford on loan with an option to buy. However, the Italian giants have decided to use their single non-EU player slot for Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, with a deal expected to be finalized soon. This decision leaves the race for Rashford’s services between Dortmund and Barcelona.

 

Dortmund and Barcelona Battle It Out

 

Romano revealed that Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United are set to hold new discussions in the coming days, as the German club explores the possibility of a loan deal. Barcelona remains keen as well, eyeing Rashford as a potential replacement for Ansu Fati, who is reportedly on the market.

 

Both clubs would require Manchester United to contribute to Rashford’s salary for the remainder of the season.

 

Rashford’s Controversial Comments

 

The ongoing transfer saga follows Rashford’s candid interview with journalist Henry Winter, where he expressed his desire for a new challenge. “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” Rashford said. He emphasized that his departure from Manchester United would be without animosity.

 

“I’m halfway through my career. I’ve had nine years in the Premier League, and that’s taught me a lot. I take things day by day, and I don’t have any regrets from my time at United.”

 

Manchester United’s Response

 

In response to Rashford’s comments, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has opted to sideline the forward, not featuring him in any matches since the interview.

 

As the January transfer window nears its close, all eyes will be on Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona to see which club will secure the services of Marcus Rashford.