Another Manchester United flop on Real Betis radar after Antony? Striker will get January loan deal if...

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee may secure a loan deal to La Liga's Real Betis if the club is open to not having him on the bench for the rest of the season, Spanish media reports said. Interestingly, former United winger Antony is currently at Betis, having found form after years of struggle and ridicule at Old Trafford.

 

The story of Dutchman Zirkzee is no different, as he has not lived up to expectations at Manchester United. He was signed from Serie A's Bologna in July 2024. The Champions League winner with Bayern Munich only has seven goals and three assists to his credit from 53 outings to date. However, it was earlier reported that Manchester United gaffer Ruben Amorim trusted him over Rasmus Højlund and was likely to keep him over the Dane.

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Real Betis are interested in Zirkzee because of the influence of Antony. Betis think what the forward lacks is regular playing time and getting to use him week after week could reap benefits—just like with Antony. Betis are no extravagant spenders on the market and are always on the lookout for affordable solutions. A loan deal for Zirkzee could be a short-term solution for their lack of firepower, Spanish media reports quote the Andalusian club as believing. Manager Manuel Pellegrini thinks his attacking department needs more mobility, variation, and speed than what Cucho Hernández or Cédric Bakambu can offer. Zirkzee fits the bill, and thus the interest to seal a loan deal for him in January.

 

 

Will Manchester United sell Zirkzee? 

 

Since the Antony deal, Betis have established contacts at Old Trafford and they plan to use the same lines to make an approach for the 24-year-old, Fichajes said in a report. They have already made initial contacts unofficially, the report added. They hope to secure a similar deal that they managed to agree for Antony's initial loan deal—a mutual splitting of the player's wages with no mandatory purchase clause.

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While Amorim had earlier chosen to keep Zirkzee, it was before the arrival of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Šeško. The club is reportedly interested in Al-Qadsiah's Mateo Retegui and Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta as well—meaning they may let Zirkzee leave.

 

Three years after joining Manchester United for £82 million from Ajax, Brazilian Antony left for Real Betis on a permanent transfer earlier this year. The move was said to be worth €25 million (£21.7m), with a 50% sell-on clause included. Antony was an absolute beast after he joined Betis on loan for the second half of the 2024–25 season. This ultimately led to him parting ways with the Red Devils and has established himself as a consistent performer in Spain.

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