Fenerbahce Plot Shock £40m Move for Antony – But Brazilian Star Isn’t Convinced

Manchester United are working hard to offload Antony this summer, but the Brazilian winger’s future remains uncertain despite interest from several clubs.The 24-year-old has been placed in Ruben Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ – a group of players deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford – as the manager looks to trim the squad and avoid falling foul of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Antony joined United from Ajax in 2022 for a hefty £85m fee under Erik ten Hag, but after two inconsistent seasons in Manchester, the club are now ready to cash in. The winger spent last season on loan at Real Betis, where he rediscovered some form, scoring nine goals across all competitions and helping the Spanish club reach the Conference League final before falling short against Chelsea. His performances in Spain proved he still has the quality to play at a high level, but his long-term future is still up in the air.

Fenerbahce Ready to Spend Big

One of the most serious clubs chasing Antony is Turkish giant Fenerbahce, managed by former Manchester United boss José Mourinho. According to ESPN, the Istanbul club are prepared to pay United’s £40m asking price outright – a deal that would suit United perfectly as they push for a permanent sale rather than another loan move.

Mourinho is keen to add Antony to his squad as he looks to deliver Fenerbahce their first league title in years. The Portuguese coach believes Antony’s creativity and direct style would be a huge boost in their chase for domestic and European glory.

But despite the interest, Antony is not fully convinced. Reports suggest the Brazilian is unsure about making the move to Turkey and would rather wait to see if other opportunities in Europe arise.

Loan Offers on the Table

While United want a permanent exit, most of Antony’s suitors are only willing to offer a loan deal. Brighton, Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica are among the clubs showing interest, but all of them prefer a temporary move rather than paying a large transfer fee upfront.

Betis, where Antony enjoyed his successful loan spell last season, are also hopeful of bringing him back on loan. The winger himself would not be against returning to Spain, having felt comfortable in La Liga and thrived under Manuel Pellegrini’s system.

Antony’s Dilemma

The sticking point lies in Antony’s personal preference. Despite having great success on loan at Betis, the Brazilian is said to be against another temporary move, as he wants long-term stability at his next club. United also share this view, as they want to cash in and remove his wages from the books to make room for new signings.

The situation is complicated further by his close relationship with Erik ten Hag, who twice signed him – once at Ajax and again at Manchester United. Leverkusen had been tipped as a possible destination, but Ten Hag quickly shut down those rumours in an interview with Bild.

“He has great quality. I signed him twice. He was like a son to me, he still is a son to me. We’re not interested in him at the moment, but we’ll see what happens in the future,” Ten Hag explained.

With the transfer window moving quickly, Antony faces a major decision. He can accept a permanent move to Turkey with Fenerbahce, which would guarantee him regular football under Mourinho and provide United with the financial relief they need. Or he can gamble by waiting for another European club to step forward with a permanent offer – a risk, considering most of the current interest is only in loans.

For United, the priority is clear: they need to offload Antony to create space for more transfers and balance their financial books. For Antony, it’s about finding the right fit – a club where he can settle, rebuild his career, and prove he’s still worth the hype that surrounded him when he arrived at Old Trafford.