Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim secured two key transfer objectives on the final of the Premier League summer window.
As the clock ticked down on the September 1 deadline, Amorim secured a season-long loan for Jadon Sancho to Aston Villa, and offloaded Antony back to Real Betis.
Amorim had informed the pair they had no place in his plans to 2025/26, as part of a four-player transfer 'bomb squad, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho previously moved on to Barcelona and Chelsea.
United's refreshed attack features over £220m worth of talent after bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko this summer.
The club have accepted their fate over financial losses on the departing quartet but Antony's case is particularly frustrating for the United hierarchy.
Signed in August 2002 by former boss Erik ten Hag, Antony's £82m move from Ajax is the club's second-highest transfer outlay, and his exit does not come close to matching that figure.
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How much did Real Betis pay for Antony?
After scoring just five Premier League goals across two and a half seasons under Ten Hag - and briefly with Amorim - the Portuguese coach opted for a six-month loan to Real Betis in the second half of 2024/25.
The Brazil international shone in Andalucia, with nine goals in all competitions, as Manuel Pellegrini's team lost out to Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League final.
Pellegrini outlined his eagerness to bring Antony back permanently but the La Liga side confirmed it would need to be at discounted price.
After weeks of negotiations, United accepted a £22.5m fee on deadline day, and Antony headed back to the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
However, a portion of that fee is based on appearances made this season, and Pellegrini's team qualifying for the Champions League in 2026.
A sell-on clause was included in the deal, but reports from the Daily Express claim it's not as beneficial to United as first viewed, with Real Betis at an advantage.
Based on United's desperation to sell, the accepted the demand of a 50% sell-on clause only being valid for profit made by Real Betis over a possible future sale.
If Real Betis sell Antony for £25m, under the terms of the agreement, United would only receive 50% of the £2.5m profit - as the small print becomes clear.
However, United could re-negotiate the terms with Real Betis, who can remove the sell-on fee for another £22.5m - to ensure they receive the full sale price - but that does not look to be under consideration currently.
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