Manchester United fans laughed at Antony in pre-season - but his brave prediction was correct

Antony planned a comeback and he has been successful. It's just that the comeback has been achieved away from Manchester United. The winger has played like a man possessed since signing for Real Betis, and he scored a stunning goal on Sunday night to take his loan tally to seven.

Real Betis were 1-0 down against Espanyol in the 84th minute and were leading 2-1 just six minutes later. Antony's stunning matchwinner is worth watching if you have not seen it already.

He cut inside from the right and curled a shot into the top left corner, but the degree of curve on the ball made it a special strike, and his Real Betis form suggests it was not a fluke.

It was great to see Antony recapture his form immediately after signing for Betis because it will help United sell him in the summer. Although his red-hot streak has continued and seeing him score worldies practically each week has understandably rubbed some United fans up the wrong way.

Antony looks like a completely different player. Where was this version of him in Manchester? Did he struggle with the £86million price tag? Was he not cut out for the Premier League? Did the No.7 shirt weigh heavily on his shoulders? The explanation is probably a combination of factors.

The bottom line is that Antony could be remembered as one of the worst Premier League signings in history, yet he still has time to establish himself as one of Europe's finest wingers.

He would have to sustain his current form for a few years and deliver in the Champions League to be considered in that territory, but he only recently celebrated his 25th birthday.

His rebirth in Spain in the second half of the season has been fascinating and is great news for United, who should be able to obtain a decent fee