MANCHESTER UNITED outcast Antony is back on the road to glory – all thanks to a manager still hailed as an Etihad hero.
The Brazilian winger finally found an escape route from his Old Trafford hell with a six-month move to Real Betis in January.
Antony has found his goalscoring boots at Real Betis
Man Utd flop Antony looks a far happier prospect playing in La LigaPA
Three goals in his first four games made him an immediate hit with fans, in a flying start to life in La Liga.
According to one Betis legend, it is all because Antony’s new gaffer has put the freedom and fun back in his game…and that man is ex-City boss Manuel Pellegrini.
The Chilean manager has an eternal place in the hearts of City fans as the man who led them to the title in the season always remembered for Steven Gerrard’s slip.
And Antony should be just as thankful at swapping the shackles and stress of United for a boss who believes in him again.
Gabino Rodriguez is a Betis great, after nearly 200 games for his boyhood club, and the man who had a key role in David de Gea’s career during his days as Spain’s Under-21 coach.
Now a respected pundit, Rodriguez is convinced Antony has struck gold and in the perfect place to rediscover the form which made him one of the world’s top wide boys.
Rodriguez insisted: “It is obviously a bit too soon for a full assessment, but this footballer has class, no doubt about it. Technically he is a very gifted player.
“The initial impression is he’s landed on his feet at Betis. He scored in his first game, I can see hunger in him and the fans are very happy.
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“Personally I have no doubts that Antony will adapt really well to Pellegrini’s system because the manager likes to play attacking football.
“Betis continuously go down the wings and Antony is the type of player who suits this coach well.
“Under another one he would struggle in all aspects, and that’s what happened at United. For me, Antony’s problem wasn’t him, but a coaching one.”
While Pellegrini – replaced by Pep Guardiola in 2016 – had a cautious public profile, his side were full of in-your-face flair, hitting 102 goals as he led City to their second Prem crown.
It is an approach he has stuck with in four years at Betis, and Rodriguez reckons Antony couldn’t have a better manager to get him back to the top.
He added: “Watching how he has developed in the few matches he’s played so far, I think he’s one for a very distinct kind of coach – and the clearest and closest example is Pellegrini.
“There are others who take a more defensive approach and focus more on running and marking or covering.
“They are the ones who tend to have a more direct style and use long balls. Players like Antony completely disappear in those sort of matches.”
The born-again Brazilian is a world away from the one which left Manchester without starting a Premier League game all season.
GettyRuben Amorim decided to let Antony leave on loan in January[/caption]
RexBrazilians Vitor Roque and Antony have developed a good relationship on the pitch[/caption]
Insiders say he is already a popular figure in the dressing room, and a squad containing another couple from his homeland made settling in much easier.
Rodriguez revealed: “He has a very good relationship with his compatriot Natan and don’t forget Victor Roque is also Brazilian.
“There are other South Americans like Giovanni Lo Celso, Cucho Hernandez and Chimmy Avila too, which does help at the start when you are in a new place.
“I’m told Antony has been well-received in the team and didn’t walk in with an air of superiority just because he came from United.
“He’s been quite the opposite, very humble, with a real eagerness to work. Things like that are highly valued at Betis.
“Antony just needed the type of coach who could spark him – and under Erik ten Haag and now Ruben Amorin, everything surrounding United looked like a funeral.”
Antony has scored three times in four games for Real Betis
GettyPrevious Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag failed to get the best out of the £80m signing[/caption]
Whether Betis have the cash to turn the loan move into a permanent one is debatable. Rodriguez reckons they will certainly give it a go.
He added: “I believe there is no definite buying option to his loan, but if he continues playing at this level, I am sure the club will try and find a way to keep him.
“The player clearly likes the club and Sevilla is a very welcoming and friendly city. I am sure he is very comfortable here with his family.”
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