Sports
United flop Antony hailed as Betis’ best ever signing
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Antony gave a glimpse against Nottingham Forest as to why Real Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo believes the player Manchester United didn’t want might be “the most important signing” in the club’s history.
The 25-year-old has been reborn in Andalusia after an underwhelming stint at Old Trafford, where he failed to get anywhere near justifying the lofty fee paid to Ajax three years ago.
Antony arrived for an eye-popping €95million, plus a potential €5m in add-ons, but failed to consistently impress and fell down the pecking order at United.
The Brazil international sparkled after joining Betis on loan in January and made the move permanent after protracted talks brought a deadline-day switch for up to €25m.
United included a 50% sell-on clause in the deal for Antony, who followed a smart assist with a late goal to secure a 2-2 draw in Wednesday’s Europa League opener against Forest.
Betis sporting director Fajardo said: “I am 100% sure that maybe Antony is the most important signing in Betis’ history.
“Everything (about the signing) because the talent, the level of the player, the level of the club as Manchester United – a big team, a big project, so I am 100% sure that Antony is the best signing in Betis’ history.”
Antony is treated like a king in the green and white half of Seville, where his goals and creativity helped Betis reach their first ever European final in May.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side lost 4-1 to Chelsea in the Conference League showpiece but that night in Poland highlighted the club’s continued growth.
“When players like Antony comes to Betis, it’s very, very important,” Fajardo said. “It helps Betis to continue growing in Europe. Last season since Antony arrived, we got to play in a European final.
“Antony, players like Gio (Lo Celso) and Isco, are very, very important because they are the example that Betis continues growing, that we are a serious club in Europe and players in the top level want to come to play in Betis.”
Betis are always striving to strike a balance between developing talent and signing quality within financial restrictions that would make Premier League clubs squirm.
But the LaLiga club, who broke the world transfer record to sign another Brazilian, Denilson, in 1998 – for the equivalent of €30m, and still the club record today – are fiercely ambitious, as seen with the start of the redevelopment of their Benito Villamarin home and attracting a player like Antony from United.
“We started to discuss with Manchester about Antony in May, June because we needed a lot of time for convincing Manchester,” Fajardo said. “But Antony, the agent, his family were convinced to come to Betis again.
“In the first moment we spoke with Manchester United for Antony to stay in Betis one year more on loan.
“But for Antony, for Manchester it was very, very important to recover the investment, so for Betis it was not easy. The move was so much for us.
“But Manchester United made a big effort, Betis made a big effort, Antony made a big, big effort to play here again. Maybe in that situation that was the secret.”
Betis may not be able to compete with Premier League clubs’ financial clout, but they boast talent that Fajardo hopes can see them to push for Europa League glory this season.
“For Betis it is not easy to sign players from Premier League, because the difference in respect to the salary between the Premier League and LaLiga is too big,” Fajardo added.
“But when a player like Antony, for example, wants to come to Betis it’s easier.
“Antony only thought to play in Betis again, so when you have a negotiation with a big club in Manchester United, a club that paid a big amount for Antony, it’s not easy. But the player wants to play in Betis.”
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Republic of Ireland teenage goalkeeper Katie Keane served notice of her huge promise as she starred in Sheffield United’s penalty shootout win against Durham in the League Cup on Wednesday night.
Keane, 19, joined Women’s Super League outfit Leicester City from Shamrock Rovers in the summer.
On Wednesday afternoon she completed a seven-day emergency loan move to Championship side Sheffield United, who were short in the goalkeeping department after losing both Sian Rogers and Charlotte Parker-Smith to injury.
Keane went straight into the team for the cup clash and made an instant impact.
Joy Ralph – who left Shamrock Rovers for the Blades around the same time Keane joined Leicester – put the visitors ahead at Maiden Castle Sports Park with a good finish in the 18th minute.
Durham equalised just before half-time, but they couldn’t be separated after that, with the game going to a shootout.
Keane made saves to deny Beth Hepple and Becky Salicki to swing it for the Blade. Afterwards she reflected on a whirlwind 24 hours.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Keane told Sheffield United club media.
“It’s some debut. To think that I haven’t actually been a Sheffield player until about four hours ago, that’s just the fun of it you know?
“The penos, thank God I saved them. The game was really, really good and I’m really proud of all the girls and the youngsters who came on and put in a really good shift.”
Keane, who first broke through at Athlone Town, will be hoping her performance caught the attention of Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward ahead of next month’s Nations League play-off against Belgium.
She was included in Eileen Gleeson’s senior squad for last year’s Euro 2025 play-off semi-final against Georgia, but has not been called up since.
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Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Read the full article on post.
Republic of Ireland teenage goalkeeper Katie Keane served notice of her huge promise as she starred in Sheffield United’s penalty shootout win against Durham in the League Cup on Wednesday night.
Keane, 19, joined Women’s Super League outfit Leicester City from Shamrock Rovers in the summer.
On Wednesday afternoon she completed a seven-day emergency loan move to Championship side Sheffield United, who were short in the goalkeeping department after losing both Sian Rogers and Charlotte Parker-Smith to injury.
Keane went straight into the team for the cup clash and made an instant impact.
Joy Ralph – who left Shamrock Rovers for the Blades around the same time Keane joined Leicester – put the visitors ahead at Maiden Castle Sports Park with a good finish in the 18th minute.
Durham equalised just before half-time, but they couldn’t be separated after that, with the game going to a shootout.
Keane made saves to deny Beth Hepple and Becky Salicki to swing it for the Blade. Afterwards she reflected on a whirlwind 24 hours.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Keane told Sheffield United club media.
“It’s some debut. To think that I haven’t actually been a Sheffield player until about four hours ago, that’s just the fun of it you know?
“The penos, thank God I saved them. The game was really, really good and I’m really proud of all the girls and the youngsters who came on and put in a really good shift.”
Keane, who first broke through at Athlone Town, will be hoping her performance caught the attention of Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward ahead of next month’s Nations League play-off against Belgium.
She was included in Eileen Gleeson’s senior squad for last year’s Euro 2025 play-off semi-final against Georgia, but has not been called up since.
[embedded content]
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Read the full article on post.
Republic of Ireland teenage goalkeeper Katie Keane served notice of her huge promise as she starred in Sheffield United’s penalty shootout win against Durham in the League Cup on Wednesday night.
Keane, 19, joined Women’s Super League outfit Leicester City from Shamrock Rovers in the summer.
On Wednesday afternoon she completed a seven-day emergency loan move to Championship side Sheffield United, who were short in the goalkeeping department after losing both Sian Rogers and Charlotte Parker-Smith to injury.
Keane went straight into the team for the cup clash and made an instant impact.
Joy Ralph – who left Shamrock Rovers for the Blades around the same time Keane joined Leicester – put the visitors ahead at Maiden Castle Sports Park with a good finish in the 18th minute.
Durham equalised just before half-time, but they couldn’t be separated after that, with the game going to a shootout.
Keane made saves to deny Beth Hepple and Becky Salicki to swing it for the Blade. Afterwards she reflected on a whirlwind 24 hours.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Keane told Sheffield United club media.
“It’s some debut. To think that I haven’t actually been a Sheffield player until about four hours ago, that’s just the fun of it you know?
“The penos, thank God I saved them. The game was really, really good and I’m really proud of all the girls and the youngsters who came on and put in a really good shift.”
Keane, who first broke through at Athlone Town, will be hoping her performance caught the attention of Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward ahead of next month’s Nations League play-off against Belgium.
She was included in Eileen Gleeson’s senior squad for last year’s Euro 2025 play-off semi-final against Georgia, but has not been called up since.
[embedded content]
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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