West Ham United forward Michail Antonio is about as honest as they come, sometimes too honest for his own good.
If you want a straight answer from a footballer, West Ham ace Michail Antonio is undoubtedly the man to ask.
Antonio has been at his most open best, during a chat with the High Performance podcast, and suggested that he’s had the chance to join all of the original top six Premier League clubs during his spell with the Hammers.
The 34-year-old also opened up on how he has struggled with his mental health in times gone by, and it was so refreshing to hear a famous footballer talk so candidly about his problems.
For West Ham this season, the Jamaica international has bagged seven goals and two assists in 31 games (Transfermarkt).
On the whole, he’s been nowhere near his best this term, aside from the first few games of the campaign.
And now Micky has made a very big claim about his efforts to leave the London Stadium…
Michail Antonio makes honest West Ham exit admission
The 34-year-old striker has never been afraid to give a straight answer to reporters.
That has been detrimental to him at times, but to be fair he has come out with some outlandish claims, like when he said we’d finish above Liverpool this season.
This time though, there was nothing silly about his comments.
Antonio has opened up on how West Ham tried to force him out.
He told the High Performance podcast, “Last summer was the closest I have ever come to leaving (West Ham). I had someone there willing to pay over the odds for what the club has asked for, but then I started the season on a high, so the club pulled it away from me.”
They said I can go so I got my head around it”, he said. I started the season on a high, I was like, ‘I need to show these people so I can get these bids in and get someone to come in and collect me’. I started the season with two good goals, so they kept me’.”
In fairness to Antonio, I think he comes across really well here.
He was clearly told that he could leave, so he got his head down and worked hard.
West Ham kept Michail Antonio at the club in the end, and he didn’t kick up a fuss and try to leave the London Stadium.
The Jamaica international has made some really poor comments in the past but this time he has actually gained my respect. Good man Micky.
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