Betis block move which meant €18m for Manchester United

Real Betis have blocked a potential move for Antony, denying Manchester United around €18m in the process.

ABC report, in their Tuesday print edition, Betis have rejected a €50m approach for the Brazilian, thus denying Manchester United a potential sell-on fee in the process.

How Manchester United have lost €18m

The transfer market is heating up around Betis, who are focused on incoming moves and potential departures. Offers have been received for players, but nothing formal as yet.

That was the case with Antony. A wealthy non-Premier League club expressed interest in signing the winger. They proposed a deal worth around €50m.

Betis, though, flatly rejected the move. Factors such as the winger’s importance, influence within the squad, status as a fan favourite and the profit-sharing agreement with Manchester United drove their refusal.

The deal would have been the biggest in the Spanish club’s history. But it never progressed beyond that initial approach.

Sell-on clause agreement

Betis signed Antony from Manchester United last summer, for a fee of €21-22m. The agreement includes several clauses, such as Champions League participation bonuses, and a 50-50 split of any potential profit from a future sale.

That would have made the deal less financially beneficial for Betis in net terms. That is why they rejected it. The belief was that they would have been left with insufficient funds to find a direct replacement for the Brazilian in a market that they consider to be inflated.

The forward will be a key player for the Spanish side this season, particularly in the Champions League. Losing him, in a deal that would not leave major profits on the books, would be a blow to say the least.

So, they rejected the proposal outright. Indeed, it did not get beyond that stage. And, as a result, denied Manchester United their share of the potential profits.