Manchester United loanee Antony made an instant impact on his Real Betis debut, earning the MVP award in their thrilling 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao.

The Brazilian winger secured a temporary switch to the La Liga side for the remainder of the season after struggling to meet expectations during his time at Old Trafford.

Having joined the Red Devils from Ajax in the summer of 2022 for a hefty fee of £82 million, Antony showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately failed to live up to his price tag over two-and-a-half seasons. The 24-year-old featured in 96 matches for United across all competitions, netting 12 goals. However, falling out of favor under manager Ruben Amorim, he seized the opportunity for a fresh start with Real Betis in the January transfer window.

His first appearance in Spain got off to a promising start as he played a key role in Betis’ attacking play. Early in the match, his saved shot led to a goal for Isco, giving the home side the lead. Despite Betis being pegged back twice by Bilbao, resulting in a 2-2 draw, Antony’s individual performance stood out, earning him the Player of the Match accolade.

Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini was full of praise for the new signing but also offered some constructive advice on refining his game.

“It was a very positive debut,” said the former Manchester City boss. “He’s a talented player. Before the game, I spoke to him about the importance of playing smartly—he doesn’t need to constantly showcase his skills on the ball. The key is to focus on making fewer mistakes and executing decisive actions, whether it’s scoring a goal, delivering a crucial pass, or providing a quality cross.”

Pellegrini expressed confidence that Antony will be a valuable asset for the team, emphasizing that his immediate impact is a promising sign for the remainder of the season.

With a strong start to his La Liga adventure, Antony will be looking to build on this momentum and prove his worth in Spain.

Manchester United are exploring the possibility of securing Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey as they seek reinforcements in attack before the January transfer window closes.

With Marcus Rashford on the verge of finalizing a loan switch to Aston Villa, United are actively searching for a replacement. The England international is set to join Villa on a temporary deal until the end of the season, with the Birmingham-based club agreeing to cover 70 percent of his £325,000-a-week wages.

Furthermore, Villa have negotiated an option to make Rashford’s move permanent in the summer, with a reported transfer fee of £40 million.

United have already expressed interest in Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel as a potential attacking addition, though the young forward recently declined an offer from Tottenham Hotspur. However, according to The Athletic, Bailey has emerged as another potential target for Erik ten Hag’s side, with a loan move being considered if Aston Villa are open to letting him leave.

The 27-year-old Jamaican international was one of Villa’s standout performers last season, registering 10 goals and nine assists in the Premier League. However, his form this term has been less prolific, contributing just one goal and two assists in league play so far.

Bailey joined Aston Villa from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 for a fee of £25 million and has been an important part of Unai Emery’s squad.

Following Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Saturday night, Emery acknowledged the club’s need to reinforce their squad before the transfer window shuts.

“We need to replace Diego Carlos, Emi Buendía, and Jhon Durán,” Emery stated. “It’s not easy because we don’t want just any replacements—we want players who can truly improve us. We are being selective and strategic.”

Villa have already taken steps to strengthen their squad, reaching an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Marco Asensio on loan for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Rashford is scheduled to undergo his medical on Sunday as he prepares for his move to Villa Park.

Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel remains open to potential moves to Manchester United or Arsenal after turning down a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs had successfully negotiated a €60 million (£50.2m) agreement with Bayern, contingent on Tel’s approval. Club chairman Daniel Levy even traveled to Munich on Friday to present Tottenham’s proposal personally. However, the 19-year-old forward opted to decline the offer, informing Bayern that he preferred to stay unless another club stepped forward before Monday’s transfer deadline.

According to reports from RMC Sport, only Manchester United and Arsenal are still in contention for Tel’s signature, as both clubs have the potential to persuade him to leave Bayern before the window closes. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Aston Villa have reportedly withdrawn from the race.

Sky Germany has revealed that United have engaged in preliminary discussions with Bayern regarding Tel but have yet to submit a formal bid. Similarly, Arsenal has maintained interest in the French youngster since his €28.5 million (£24.4m) transfer from Rennes in July 2022 but has not taken any concrete steps to secure his services.

Chelsea previously expressed interest earlier this month, yet Tel is reportedly hesitant about joining due to the high level of competition within Enzo Maresca’s squad at Stamford Bridge.

The primary motivation behind Tel’s willingness to leave Bayern stems from limited playing opportunities, as he has started only three matches under Vincent Kompany this season.

Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Max Eberl, confirmed on Wednesday that Tel had initially decided to stay but has since reconsidered his stance.

“Mathys originally wanted to stay and prove himself,” Eberl explained. “Now, he has expressed that he is open to a move, and we have to assess our options. His playing time has been limited, which is understandable from his perspective. Given that we are at the end of January, this situation is more complex for everyone involved. We must determine the best course of action for Mathys and Bayern Munich.”