Antony has no regrets over turning down Bayern for Betis

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Antony says he has no regrets about turning down a move to Bayern Munich in order to join Real Betis last season.

The Brazilian was part of Ruben Amorim’s “bomb squad” at Manchester United, and after spending half a season on loan with Betis in 2024-25, Antony then made the move permanent last September.

He has made 72 appearances for Betis in all competitions since January 2025, scoring 23 goals and providing 15 assists in that time.

During his initial loan spell, Antony played a big role in helping Betis get to their first-ever European final – which finished in a 4-1 win for Chelsea in the Conference League.

After that, Antony was linked with a transfer to Bayern Munich, with Vincent Kompany keen to bring him to the Bundesliga giants.

Antony turned down the opportunity, instead opting to return to Betis permanently, and he says he has never felt like that was the wrong choice.

“That was, of course, a great honour,” he told Bild about Bayern’s interest.

“I have great respect for Bayern Munich and also for Vincent Kompany. He’s a coach I greatly admire. When a club like Bayern shows interest and the coach calls personally, it means a lot to a player.

“[Choosing Betis] was a decision I made together with my family. I was going through a difficult time in my life and needed a place where I could be happy again – not just as a footballer, but also as a person.

“I felt that Betis was exactly the right club for me. That’s why I don’t regret this decision at all!”

Among Betis players, only Abde Ezzalzouli (25) registered more goal involvements in all competitions than Antony (24 – 14 goals, 10 assists), who finished the campaign with more shots (115) and efforts on target (38) than any of his team-mates.

Last season, Antony played a key role in helping Betis reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League as well as clinch a fifth-place finish in LaLiga, which was enough to secure Champions League football.

Betis will play in UEFA’s premier competition for the first time since the 2005-06 season, and Antony is relishing the challenge ahead.

“This is something very special for the club and our fans,” Antony said. “They have waited many years for this moment.

“We know how big the challenge in the Champions League will be, but we are looking forward to it. Our goal is to represent Betis in the best possible way and give our all in every match.

“The fans can look forward to a team that plays with great passion and commitment.

And asked about his ambitions for the upcoming season, Antony added: “I want to win titles. That’s always my biggest goal.

“I also want to improve my stats, score more goals, and provide more assists. But above all, I want to help the team and have an even better season than last year.”

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