Revealed: The meaning behind Antony’s celebration after his stunning winner for Real Betis – as Man United loanee continues to shine after Old Trafford exit

Manchester United loanee Antony debuted a new celebration after his latest heroics for Real Betis on Thursday night. 

The Brazilian pointed to a tattoo on his neck after scoring a brilliant half-volley for the LaLiga side in their 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the Conference League semi-final first leg. 

After picking up the ball outside the 18-yard box, he failed to get a long-range effort away on his favoured left foot. However, he showed rapid reactions and excellent precision to smash the ball into the top corner with his right foot on a follow-up half-volley.

It marked the latest example of his rehabilitation in the south of Spain following his temporary move from United amid a torrid spell. 

And to celebrate his strike, Antony opted for a rather grandiose move, pointing to his ‘Iluminado’ tattoo, which translate to ‘The Chosen One’ in English. 

Whether Antony stays in Seville beyond the end of this season remains to be seen but there has been a clamour from team-mates for him to remain in Spain. 

Antony debuted a new celebration after netting the winner for Real Betis against Fiorentina

The Brazilian rifled the ball into the top corner with his weaker foot to give the LaLiga side the advantage

Speaking after Betis’ victory, Antony’s team-mate Joaquin said: ‘I’ll provide the car if he has to be kidnapped, but let him stay no matter what.

‘This is the moment to enjoy. I think important moments will come, and we’ll see later.’

Last month, Antony – who was signed by United for £86million before going on to register just 12 goals and five assists in 96 matches for the club – said he believes issues in his personal life affected his performances at Old Trafford. 

In 2023, Antony was accused by his former partner Gabriela Cavallin of offending, assaulting and threatening her, leading to the Sao Paulo police department conducting an investigation.

A year after the complaint was made, the police found insufficient evidence of any wrongdoing on Antony’s part and concluded their investigation, as reported by Globo.com.

‘I think that, apart from my football life, my personal life got in the way a lot, because of the things I went through, the moments I lived there,’ he told ESPN Brasil.

‘Like it or not, it’s affected me a lot. So, of course, I know the potential I have.

‘It’s not for nothing that I went to a World Cup, it’s not for nothing that I was sold to United for a lot of money, and I know my worth.

‘People look at the moment, but they don’t look at the bigger picture, what happens to bring things about.

‘So, as I said, my feeling at United was that I had good moments, bad moments too, but of course I could have done more, I could have done better.’