“He’s a mix between Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar” - Former Manchester United star sold by Ruben Amorim compared to star attackers by teammate

Real Betis Marc Bartra compared former Manchester United star and current teammate Antony to superstar forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

After turning heads with his performances for Dutch side Ajax, Antony was signed for a whopping £85 million fee in the summer of 2022. Although he showcased flashes of brilliance, the Brazilian was never able to live up to his hefty price tag at Old Trafford.

In two-and-a-half seasons at United, Antony only managed 12 goals and five assists in 96 appearances across all competitions. He was cast out of the first-team squad by Ruben Amorim and sent on loan to Real Betis in January 2025.

He rediscovered his form in Seville, racking up nine goals and five assists in 26 games. He made his move to the Estadio Benito Villamarin permanent for a reported €25 million fee in September 2025.

In a recent interview with Mundobetis, Bartra compared Antony to Ronaldo and Neymar and outlined the qualities that make him a perfect fit for the Verdiblancos. The former Barcelona man said (via Metro):

"It's a style of football that suits him very well, that's why we're seeing the real Antony again, even an improved Antony. The first day I spoke with him, I already saw his mentality, with that quality and that Brazilian talent. I always say hes a mix between Neymar and Cristiano. He has the same mentality as Cristiano, always striving for more and being very focused on the game."

While they did lose Antony, Manchester United reinforced their attack with multiple transfers last summer. The Red Devils signed Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"This is the only way" - When Cristiano Ronaldo urged Manchester United to 'rebuild everything' in order to succeed

Cristiano Ronaldo once claimed that his former side Manchester United needed to 'rebuild from the bottom' in order to restore the club to its former glory.

Ronaldo joined the Red Devils from Sporting CP in the summer of 2003. He spent six successful seasons at the club, winning three Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League and his first Ballon d'Or title in 2008.

After his unbelievable stints at Real Madrid (2009-2018) and Juventus (2018-2021), the Portuguese icon surprisingly returned to United in the summer of 2021. However, his fairytale return did not go to plan, as a public spat with then-manager Erik ten Hag turned ugly and led to his contract being annulled by the club in November 2022.

In an appearance on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast in September 2024, Ronaldo urged Manchester United to hit the reset button and start afresh. He said:

"The club needs time to rebuild because it’s still one of the best clubs in the world, but they need to change. They understand that this is the only way... I believe that the future will be bright. I believe, but they don’t depend only on the talents... They have to rebuild from the bottom. If not, they cannot compete. It will be impossible."

Just two months after the aforementioned interview, Manchester United fired Ten Hag and hired Ruben Amorim as head coach. Despite a few initial struggles, some shrewd transfer recruitment and increased familiarity with Amorim's tactical system means that the Red Devils currently sit seventh in the 2025-26 EPL standings.

Edited by Aaryan Nagraj