By Martin Graham
Michail Antonio admits he had to set aside his pride following the car accident that almost cost him his life as he prepares for his first club outing in 15 months.
The 35-year-old forward has signed for Al-Sailiya and says several English sides were reluctant to consider him after the December 2024 crash that resulted in multiple fractures to his leg.
He has featured only three times since the incident, all as a substitute for the Jamaica national team in June. Now, ahead of his return in the Qatar Stars League, Antonio says he feels rejuvenated and determined to demonstrate that he is fully fit.
Reflecting on his departure from West Ham United, where he made 323 appearances and scored 68 Premier League goals to become the club’s all-time leading scorer in the competition, he expressed disappointment at not receiving even a brief farewell appearance in a home friendly. He described his exit in August as difficult and said he ultimately fell out of favour under the then manager Graham Potter.
Antonio insisted he still possesses the attributes that defined his decade in the Premier League, revealing that while several managers were interested after watching him train, certain club owners blocked potential deals due to concerns over his injury history.
Setbacks and resilience
The striker sustained four separate fractures to his femur when his Ferrari left the road and struck a tree in Epping Forest during Storm Darragh. He has no memory of the crash and says the emotional toll was felt most by his family.
Rehabilitation required him to relearn basic movements, from walking to running and jumping. Yet he explained that the most challenging moments were not physical but the repeated disappointments that followed.
Antonio trained with Brentford for two weeks after accepting he needed to prove his condition, only to tear his calf on the eve of a proposed move. Talks with Leicester City also collapsed, with the club unwilling to risk a recurrence. He later worked alone before spending time at Charlton Athletic.
He acknowledged that therapy, which he began during a divorce, helped him process such moments. Speaking openly about his experiences, Antonio said counselling allowed him to confront setbacks rather than suppress them and to understand their significance in his journey.
Short-term deal in Qatar
The opportunity in Qatar emerged only last week after Jamaica team-mate Mason Holgate informed Al-Sailiya manager Mirghani Al Zain that Antonio was available following an injury to their first-choice striker.
Although a pay-as-you-play arrangement with Charlton was close to completion, he opted for a two-month contract in Qatar instead. The deal allows him to reassess his options in the summer, while Jamaica remain in contention to reach the World Cup via March’s play-offs.
Antonio rejected the notion that the switch was financially motivated, stating his immediate priority is to regain rhythm and remain healthy. He believes the schedule in Qatar offers a better chance of maintaining fitness than the demands of playing twice a week.
Addressing questions about Qatar’s human rights record, he said he was unaware of specific criticisms and that his personal experience since arriving, including during Ramadan, has been positive.
After a prolonged absence from club competition, Antonio says he is eager once more for the routine of matchdays — the scent of the turf, the build-up to kick-off and the battle for points.