Besiktas Pursue Antony for Ambitious Transfer
Besiktas are lining up an ambitious move for former Manchester United winger Antony as they hunt for a marquee attacking signing before the window closes.
According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, the Istanbul club have turned to the Brazilian after missing out on Mohamed Salah, who chose a move to Trabzonspor instead. Losing that race has only sharpened Besiktas’ intent. They want a headline name, someone who shifts the mood around the club. Antony fits that brief.
From record sale to revival
Antony’s name still carries weight across Europe. In 2022 he became Ajax’s record outgoing transfer when Manchester United paid at least €95 million to take him to Old Trafford. The fee brought pressure, and the winger never truly hit the heights expected in the Premier League, eventually leaving on loan and then permanently.
Last year, Real Betis stepped in, securing him for €22 million. It looked like a reset, a chance to rebuild his reputation away from the glare of Manchester. He took it.
In Spain, Antony delivered the sort of numbers that once made him one of Europe’s most talked-about young wingers: 14 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last season. Sharp, direct, productive – it was a reminder of the player United thought they were getting.
Betis, though, are not closing the door. Despite his strong campaign, reports in Spain suggest the Seville club are prepared to listen if a suitable offer arrives.
Besiktas push, Europe watches
That stance has encouraged Besiktas, but it also opens the door to rivals. Clubs from across Europe’s top five leagues are tracking the 24-year-old’s situation after his resurgence in La Liga. Any move will not be straightforward.
Antony’s market value is estimated at around €40 million, and his contract with Betis runs until mid-2030. That gives the Spanish side a strong hand in negotiations and turns this into a financially demanding deal for any suitor, let alone a Turkish club.
Besiktas, though, are determined to test that resolve. The board are exploring every possible route to structure a deal that can bring Antony to Istanbul, aware that landing a player of his profile would be a major statement both domestically and in Europe.
Ajax reunion on the right
If Besiktas manage to get it over the line, the right flank suddenly becomes one of the most intriguing areas of their squad. Antony would be battling for minutes with former Ajax team-mate Václav Cerny, setting up an internal duel with a familiar face.
For a club chasing titles and European relevance, that kind of depth on the wing is exactly what they crave. For Antony, it would be another reinvention: from Amsterdam to Manchester, from Manchester to Seville, and potentially from Seville to Istanbul.
The next few days will be decisive. Besiktas are ready to push, Betis are waiting for the right number, and rival clubs are circling.
Whether the Super Lig giants can turn admiration into a blockbuster signing may say a lot about where Turkish football sits in this transfer market.
