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Antony Poised to Leave Manchester United as Betis Reportedly Reach Agreement in Principle

Antony closing in on Betis return after Manchester United and the La Liga side agreed terms. online.

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Antony appears to be edging closer to a return to Real Betis after reports of an agreement in principle between Manchester United and the La Liga side. The winger spent the summer separated from Ruben Amorim’s squad and has prioritised a move back to Betis above other opportunities.

Betis have been keen on a reunion but initially lacked the financial means to complete a transfer without careful consideration. The Telegraph reports that fresh discussions between the two clubs have produced an understanding that could see the move structured as a loan with an obligation to buy.

The player is believed to favour Betis and is even thought to have rejected an offer from the Saudi Pro League in order to return to Spain. Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini was clear about the club’s intentions when asked last week: “We all know that he was very good here, we want him with us, and Antony wants to return no doubt.”

A symbolic sign of Betis’s hope that a deal will be completed is their decision to keep the No. 7 shirt vacant after Antony wore it during last season’s loan. That gesture underlines the club’s expectation that he will rejoin the squad.

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Antony’s time at Manchester United will be remembered primarily as a disappointment on paper. He made a striking early impact in 2022–23, scoring in each of his first three Premier League appearances against Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton. After that bright start he managed just two more goals across his next 59 league outings for United.

By contrast, Antony reached a five-goal Premier League tally in only 17 La Liga games during his loan spell in Spain. On the subject of his suitability to different styles of play, Gary Neville observed this summer: “There is a different tactical awareness, technical ability [in Spain], which is better suited to him.”

Manchester United

Napoli may revive loan interest in Kobbie Mainoo if United secure a replacement

Napoli may renew loan interest in Kobbie Mainoo for January if United find a replacement. and beyond.

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Napoli could revive their loan interest in Kobbie Mainoo in the January window, a report has suggested. The Serie A club were one of several sides linked with a move for the Manchester United midfielder in the final hours of the transfer window.

ESPN say the England international’s temporary stay in Naples was “mapped out” but United rejected the offer. That account adds that Napoli might “resurrect” their interest in January provided Manchester United can identify a suitable replacement.

Amorim publicly rebuffed that approach, insisting that he valued the midfielder. Despite that reassurance, Mainoo has not made a single Premier League start this season, a situation that has reportedly left the 20-year-old keen to push for a move in the summer.

The Red Devils are already expected to look for a new midfielder in 2026. Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba is presented in reports as an ideal candidate, although United are said to be prepared to sign a more affordable short-term option in January if the Seagulls resist losing their player mid-season.

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Mainoo’s dissatisfaction at Old Trafford is said to stem not only from limited game time but also from his contract situation. The academy graduate signed a deal in January 2023 that runs until 2027, with a club option for a further year. “At that point, Mainoo was just 17 and had not yet made a single senior appearance.”

For Manchester United, any January movement would depend on recruitment options and the willingness to sanction a temporary exit for a young midfielder who has attracted interest since the close of the last window.

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Manchester United

Pre‑season Friction and Expectations That Pushed André Onana Towards a Loan Exit

Amorim was dissatisfied with Onana, in pre-season, prompting a loan move and broader squad clearout.

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Manchester United moved swiftly this summer to remove players deemed disruptive to the manager’s plans, a process that has placed André Onana on the verge of a loan to Türkiye. Sources inside the club say Ruben Amorim was reportedly “dissatisfied” with multiple aspects of Onana’s approach during pre-season, a verdict that contributed to the decision to pursue a new goalkeeper.

The club’s clearout also included Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho in what has been described as a deliberate effort to rid Amorim’s squad of any undesirable figures, even if it does result in significant financial losses. Former United defender Rio Ferdinand voiced approval of that approach.

Onana’s troubles at Old Trafford have not been limited to errors on the pitch. The former Inter goalkeeper suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of pre-season, which reportedly added to Amorim’s concerns. The 29-year-old’s “expectation” that he would be United’s starting goalkeeper for the new campaign also left his boss “dissatisfied.”

A report in The Athletic suggests off-field conduct was a factor as well. It states Onana “ruffled feathers” among some figures at the club with his “big personality.” Whether Amorim was among that group is unclear, but the combination of interruptions in pre-season and perceived attitudes appears to have shifted the club’s view.

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United were not initially in the market for a new shot-stopper, but co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to have supported the decision to sign a goalkeeper after the first Premier League game of the season against Arsenal. Onana had been dropped for that fixture in favour of Altay Bayındır, whose handling of Declan Rice’s corner led to the match’s only goal.

Intriguingly, Onana was originally told to refrain from securing a new club before that stance shifted following the Deadline Day arrival of Senne Lammens. The chain of events has now left Onana poised to join Trabzonspor on loan as Manchester United reshapes the squad around Amorim’s demands.

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Arsenal

Premier League Hall of Fame: Every Inductee and the Case for Their Place

A concise overview of every Premier League Hall of Fame inductee and why they were chosen. Read more

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The Premier League Hall of Fame has become a permanent feature of the competition’s modern story. For a player to be eligible for a place in the Premier League’s Hall of Fame, they must have made 250 appearances in the division since its 1992 inauguration or achieved one of the following:

The list of inductees reads like a roll call of defining figures. The Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer has just a single league title to his name, but he’ll likely remain a record-holder unless Harry Kane opts to make a comeback post-Bayern Munich. Shearer’s greatest collective success came with Blackburn Rovers, but he’s immortalised on Tyneside.

Many regard Henry as the greatest Premier League player there’s been. The dazzling French forward has the collective accolades and individual achievements to supply a compelling case. Cantona was utterly unique. Man Utd took a flyer on Cantona at the start of the Premier League era, but the Frenchman proved to be the making of the Red Devils’ 90s dynasty.

Roy Keane is presented as arguably the greatest captain the League has ever seen, while Lampard remains the highest scoring midfielder in the competition, with over 600 Premier League appearances and three league titles with Chelsea. Bergkamp is remembered for sustained runs of brilliance that propelled Arsenal to league titles.

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Beckham’s off-field prominence often overshadowed his on-field quality, but he was one of the stars of Premier League football in the 90s. Rooney’s arrival felt inevitable and he was a constant thorn for many opponents at the Theatre of Dreams. Vieira was an early Wenger recruit and the leader of Arsenal teams that conquered the country on multiple occasions.

Drogba’s 254 Premier League appearances all came for Chelsea, where he won four league titles. Kompany won Premier League Player of the Season during Man City’s dramatic 2011–12 success. Schmeichel redefined goalkeeping for his era. Scholes, part of the Class of ’92, evolved into a classy deep-lying performer. Ian Wright struck 113 Premier League goals and claimed a title in 1997–98.

Managers are represented too. Ferguson spent 26 years at United and inspired 13 league titles. Wenger managed a record 828 games and remains the only ‘Invincible’ manager in Premier League history.

Defenders and goalkeepers feature prominently: Adams, Čech, Ferdinand and Ashley Cole are all included for their defining contributions. The Hall of Fame collects these careers to explain why each figure matters to the competition’s history.

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