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News
- 4 hours ago
CEO reveals the extreme lengths required to complete Man Utd transfer
Tom Weber
- Updated: 9 Sept 2025 21:08 BST
- 5 min read
News
Real Betis CEO Ramon Alarcon has revealed that it required the intervention of kit manufacturer Hummel to complete the signing of Antony from Manchester United.
The Brazilian finally returned to Real Betis on Deadline Day after a saga that dragged on all summer. Antony spent the second half of last season in Seville and proved a massive hit, so all parties wanted to continue this relationship.
However, the deal was difficult to pull off for Betis as Man Utd had significant demands, considering that they had spent €95 million on the 25-year-old in 2022. The LaLiga side favoured another loan, but the Red Devils wanted a sale.
Current ETV
Antony
M, AM (R)
Man Utd
Antony
M, AM (R)
Man Utd
ETV Range
€37.2M - €45.5M
Ultimately, Betis had to give in and present a permanent offer for the winger. They ended up signing him for €25 million upfront and a 50 per cent sell-on on the profit raised from his next move.
This has seen Antony become the club's most expensive signing after COVID-19, which financially ravaged the Andalusians and from which they only recently managed to recover.
Hummel had to help sign Antony
Betis CEO Ramon Alarcon has now revealed that he would not have been able to bring Antony back without the help of kit manufacturer Hummel.
“There was a moment when we saw it was lost because United’s position was difficult,” he told El Chiringuito. “We had a difference of €5m-€6m and had already reached our limit. In the end, we all made an effort, we did our part, and so did the player and United.
“On Sunday [31 August], during the match against Athletic, the relationship was very tense. Around noon, United sent the draft contract and asked us to make the changes. It was clear that they were going to comply with our requests.
“In the early hours of Sunday morning, at 2:00 a.m., we received confirmation. In the morning, we closed the accounting for Antony’s future capital gains because we wanted to have the ability to recover the investment. It was one of the most problematic points, but we resolved it.
“Sunday at 2:00 a.m. is when the situation was unblocked, and we started looking for a plane so he could come on Monday afternoon. There was still a bit of stress because everything was agreed upon, but we had to wait for the Man Utd owners in the United States to sign, and they did so at 3:00 p.m. on Monday.
“We’ve launched a clothing line [with Hummel] with Antony, we’re participating with him through royalties, and he’ll also have some non-sporting income from that merchandising.
“If he ends up being the world star he has been, we at Betis hope to recover the investment and even what it cost us the previous year. It carries a certain risk because this is locked in for five years and at a high cost, but you can potentially reap benefits.
“It’s the most difficult signing I’ve made as CEO because there was a lot of pressure from all the Betis fans. It was expected that he was coming; everyone was asking when he was coming.”
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