Manchester United worst investments the have ever made £40 million price tag on Antony.
The players are happy, the club is happy, and everyone wants the party to continue. However, now comes the financial reality – the realization that fairytales come with a price tag. As always, the main issue is money. Manchester United, desperate to recover from what is considered one of their worst investments, has placed a £40 million price tag on Antony. Under Financial Fair Play rules, they need to sell him for at least £32.5 million to avoid recording a loss on their books. For Real Betis, a modest club with a limited budget, those numbers seem unrealistic.
Consequently, the club’s hierarchy has embarked on what can only be described as theatrical damage control in the press. The president and the sporting director have been repeating the same message: “This is a very complicated operation,” and “we’ll need to be very creative.” In simpler terms, they are signaling to United: “We cannot pay that, so don’t even ask.” At the same time, they are assuring their fans: “We will not jeopardize the club’s future, regardless of how good he is.” This is a classic public relations tactic aimed at driving the price down.
Amid all this, the most touching part of the story is Antony himself. Fully aware that his wages are too high for Betis to manage, he has reportedly agreed to a 30% pay cut. He has found a home with a team that believes in him and a coach he trusts, and he is willing to make financial sacrifices to stay where he feels happy.
Just when it seemed like everything had reached a dead end, a twist emerged. According to Fabrizio Romano, Betis is close to finalizing the sale of their midfielder Johnny Cardoso to Atlético Madrid for over £25 million. What does this mean? It means Betis suddenly has money – not just a little, but a sum that significantly changes the conversation. Those £25 million bring them within reach of the £32.5 million Manchester United is eager to achieve.
This situation has shifted from “where do we get the funds?” to a matter of negotiation and compromise. Betis now has the cash, United has a pressing need to sell, and the player clearly wants to stay. With the proceeds from the Cardoso deal, Betis is in a position to make a serious bid – the kind Manchester United would be foolish to refuse.
Remember when Barcelona was desperate to offload Frenkie de Jong, trying year after year to sell him to Manchester United simply to shore up their budget? Those days are gone. The situation in Catalonia has completely flipped. De Jong, once the club’s most sellable asset, is now the cornerstone around which Barcelona plans its future. According to multiple sources, Barcelona is now working to finalize a contract extension for De Jong by the end of this week. On the surface, it seems like a happy ending: President Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick are both expressing how much they value De Jong and want him to stay long-term. De Jong himself appears genuinely relieved and happy to remain with the club, having navigated years of uncertainty.
However, the urgency behind this deal goes beyond what happens on the pitch; it is also about financial strategy. By granting De Jong a longer-term contract, Barcelona can spread the salary owed on his current contract over more years. This tactic reduces his annual amortization cost in their financial records, creating more room under the wage cap. As a result, this move not only allows Barcelona to register their new goalkeeper, Joan García, but it also opens up opportunities to pursue their primary summer target: Nico Williams.
In essence, keeping De Jong enables Barcelona to bring in new talent while also providing hope that they won't need to make painful roster decisions this summer. The transformation in De Jong’s narrative is remarkable. He has evolved from being a financial scapegoat to a financial savior, and his new deal might achieve what his sale once aimed to accomplish: saving the club’s summer. An official announcement is expected soon, confirming De Jong's elevated status at Barcelona.
