Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim believes Antony is succeeding on loan at Real Betis as a result of the Spanish game not being as physical as it is in England.
The winger joined the La Liga outfit on loan for the remainder of the season in the January transfer window. He has enjoyed a productive start at the Seville-based club, scoring three goals and registering two assists in his first six appearances.
He had fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford this season, struggling for minutes under both Amorim and former United manager Erik ten Hag. He last started a Premier League game for the Reds last May.
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Antony joined United from Ajax in September 2022 for a fee north of £85million but he has failed to justify that eye-watering price tag, scoring 12 goals in 96 matches.
Amorim has now claimed that he believes the Brazilian is performing much better in Spain as a direct result of the physical demands of La Liga being less than what they are in the Premier League.
"When you play against any team in England, the physicality is there," Amorim told " target="_blank" class="link"> TNT Sports. "If you don't have physicality, you will struggle a lot.
"Antony is so much better now in Spain. It's [because of] a lot of factors but I guarantee you it's physicality."
The loan deal which took Antony to Betis did not include an option for the Spanish club to automatically make his stay permanent this summer. However, Betis are already open to keeping him beyond the end of this season.
Betis chief executive Ramon Alarcon told Cadena Ser's Radio Sevilla last month: "I think so. The other day the CEO of United called me.
"We sent them all the moves and details of the player throughout the week so that they can see that we are looking after their asset. There is very good chemistry with Manchester [United] and with the player.
"It is a possibility that he will continue next season, why not?"
