MANCHESTER UNITED flop Antony was left in tears after avoiding a red card for a headbutt during Real Betis’ clash against Utrecht.
The Brazilian inspired his side to a 2-1 win in their Europa League game as he assisted Cucho Hernandez’s opening goal.
But Antony was lucky to still be on the pitch at that point after appearing to headbutt Utrecht left-back Souffian El Karouani during a duel earlier in the game.
The pair had been competing for the ball down the right flank when Anthony moved his head towards the player.
El Karouani fell to the turf and VAR officials looked at the incident, but the referee declined to take further action.
It came just days after he was given his marching orders for kicking an opponent in the face during Betis’ 1-1 draw with Girona.
He had attempted to make a clearance with an overhead kick but caught Joel Roca and was handed a straight red card.
And after another close shave, Antony admitted it had been a “very hard week” and was left emotional knowing he would miss Sunday’s El Gran Derbi clash against Sevilla.
He said: “For me it’s a very sad moment because I’m coming from a sending off where there was no intention of anything, but hey.
“This week was very hard. I know there are a lot of games ahead, but I know the importance of this one and I’m a little sad, angry, because I wanted to be there on Sunday, but I’ll be with my teammates.”
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Antony cost United around £85million when he joined from Ajax in 2022 but will go down as one of the club’s biggest recent transfer misfires.
He scored just 12 times from 96 games before losing his place under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
But he found a second wind on loan at Betis last season, scoring nine goals in 26 games and that was enough for the Spanish club to turn his move permanent.
He’s continued that form this season with six goals and three assists in all competitions, but his red card against Girona showed he is still prone to moments of poor judgment.
Antony insisted his kick on Roca was “completely unintentional” and apologised to the fans.
But he later said he had lost sleep over the unfortunate incident and confirmed Betis would appeal.
He added: “I had no intention. That’s why we’re going to try to appeal. I won the ball. When I did the (overhead) there, I didn’t see it, I was looking at the ball.
“It was the VAR decision, the referee knows that I had no intention. It was very hard to sleep. I stayed at home thinking all night, I slept very little.”
Antony’s struggles at Old Trafford were clear for everyone to see but he later detailed how his mental health suffered as he battled to find his best form.
He said this summer: “I went through difficult times [at Manchester United] when I no longer felt that pleasure.
“I even always told my brother, I told him that I couldn’t take it anymore.’ “Only I know what it was like to be there at home, not having the strength to even play with my son, going days without eating, staying locked in my room.”
“[Coming to Betis] changed a lot because I needed to find myself, because of everything I went through in my personal life.”
