Antony reveals how close he was to joining Liverpool and explains 'lack of respect' from Manchester United

The Brazilian left for Real Betis on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window

Antony signed for Man Utd from Ajax in September 2022 for a reported £86million transfer fee, but struggled for consistency throughout his time at Old Trafford.

Following a successful loan spell during the second half of last season, the Brazilian made the permanent switch to Real Betis in the summer for £21.65m, representing a significant loss for the Red Devils.

However, in a startling revelation, Antony says he almost joined Liverpool prior to make his big-money move to Man United .

Speaking to ESPN Brazil, he said: “Before closing with United, I was very close to Liverpool. But the path was meant to be what it was.”

Antony has been extremely critical of his former club since his departure to Spain, citing a lack of respect during the summer as part of Ruben Amorim ’s ‘bomb squad’.

“I reported back on July 14 and trained separately for more than a month. It was very complicated,” he added.

“For more than 40 days we stayed in hotels. Me and my father were there, waiting. I trained at five in the afternoon while the group trained in the morning.

Antony is back at Real Betis , this time on a permanent deal

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“I felt there was a lack of respect, even a lack of education. Nobody said good morning or good afternoon. Not even that.

“It was a moment to test myself, to believe. I knew that something good would happen, even if doubts crossed my mind.”

Despite this, the winger - who scored and claimed an assist for Real Betis against Nottingham Forest last month - insists he does not regret his time at Man Utd.

He said: “Maybe if I had exploded right away, I might have lost myself later. It was necessary to go through that process. Today I feel like a better man, a better father.”