Antony has posted an emotional farewell message to Real Betis and thanked them for helping him rediscover his ‘joy’ after his loan from Manchester United came to end.
The forward dazzled during his six-month stint in Spain, scoring nine goals in 26 appearances in all competitions and helping Betis reach the Conference League final.
However, the 25-year-old’s future remains uncertain and he is currently set to return to his Old Trafford nightmare, despite admitting he did not have the strength to play with his son and would go days without eating, locked in his room, there.
Betis want to keep the winger but will need to shell out a significant sum and fend off competition for his signature from other clubs, leaving Antony stuck in limbo.
Despite not knowing what lies ahead, Antony posted a touching social media video in which he thanked Betis for reminding him why he fell in love with the sport.
Antony has bid an emotional farewell to Real Betis with his future stuck in limbo
He shared a touching video in which he thanked Betis for helping him rediscover his joy
The forward will return to Manchester United but the club are keen to sell him permanently
Narrating over a series of highlight clips from his time at the club, he said: ‘Today one of the most beautiful chapters of my life closes. And before I turn the last page, I need to tell you why you were and always will be so special to me.
‘Since I was little, football wasn’t just a dream or my only chance to change my life. As many people say. For me, it was much more than that. It was my joy.
‘While others saw football as a way out, I saw it as a way to reach my destination. The only place where I felt complete. I counted the minutes until I could chase the ball.
‘Playing wasn’t an escape. It was destiny. It was pure happiness. Life took me far from the favela to the world. I left Brazil, played in Holland, in England, stopped being just a kid, and became a father. Many things changed.
‘But football, football was always there. It was always my refuge. Until one day, everything fell apart. From heaven to hell. The ball stopped coming in. The joy faded. My world turned dark. And I began to doubt myself, my talent, my passion for football.
‘And that’s when football gave me something else: you. When I arrived here, I didn’t know what to expect. But not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine finding what I found. From my first step at this club, I felt something different.
‘It was like coming home, like reconnecting with a part of me I thought I’d lost. With you, I smiled again. With you, I became that kid again. The one who loved football with all my heart. With you, football became love again. True love.
‘Thank you for opening the doors to me as if I were one of the family. Thank you for giving me back the joy of playing. Thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with this game. My home. My people. Mucho Betis. Always.’
Antony dazzled during his stint with Betis, scoring five goals across all competitions
He hailed Betis’ fans for welcoming him and reminding him why he fell in love with football
Speaking after the Conference League final, Antony admitted he was unsure over his future
Quizzed on his future after Betis’ 4-1 defeat by Chelsea in the Conference League final in Wroclaw, Antony admitted he was still none the wiser.
‘I don’t what will happen in the future, only God knows,’ he told CBS Sports.
‘My work is playing and I’m doing that well. I have a lot of affection for Betis, for everyone, but I have a contract with United and I don’t know what’s going to happen.
‘Now I will go to the national team and then on holiday then we will see what happens in the future. I’m very happy here, everyone knows that but I have a contract.’
