Michail Antonio has released a video that is hard to watch on the day it was claimed talks over a new West Ham contract have collapsed.
It feels like this may be the end for West Ham and hero striker Michail Antonio.
The Jamaican turns 36 next season and is currently battling back from breaking his leg in four places in that horrific car crash back in December.
But Antonio is out of contract at West Ham at the end of this month after nine memorable years in east London since joining from Forest for a bargain £7.5m.
Hammers News exclusively revealed some time ago that West Ham were considering handing Antonio a new one-year deal dependent on his recovery from the leg break.
But for the first time in a recent interview, Antonio admitted he could be set to leave the Hammers.
Hammers facing major Antonio dilemma
West Ham’s leading Premier League goalscorer said the ball was in the club’s court over extending his contract.
But The Athletic’s West Ham reporter Roshane Thomas stated last week an extension was looking increasingly unlikely.
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Thomas said: “West Ham have held discussions with Antonio but are unlikely to offer the 35-year-old a new deal. The club have reservations over whether the forward can recapture his previous form.”
In a cringeworthy moment recently, Antonio was told he is ‘too old’ by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca live on TV.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
That brought the dilemma facing West Ham into sharp contrast after Graham Potter made it clear he wants to drastically reduce the age of his squad.
Potter wants to sign at least two new strikers and Celtic’s 19-year-old starlet Daniel Cummings is joining West Ham on a free transfer on July 1.
Danny Ings has been released and Evan Ferguson has been sent back to Brighton.
Meanwhile, Potter is not a huge fan of Niclas Fullkrug who looks all but certain to depart too.
Especially after Juventus came calling again for Fullkrug this weekend.
Antonio releases hard to watch video as West Ham talks collapse
With a changing of the guard on the cards up front, Antonio has now released a hard to watch video on the same day his West Ham contract talks collapsed.
Claret and Hugh claim Antonio has rejected West Ham’s offer of a new short-term contract and is now considering his many ‘other offers’.
It’s stated that the Hammers have offered Antonio a short-term contract on reduced basic wages, with appearance-based incentives tied to his fitness.
But Antonio’s camp are holding out for a longer-term deal with more guaranteed money. And negotiations have now collapsed with a number of other clubs circling.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
As that news emerged on Sunday, Antonio took to social media in the evening to share a tear-jerking video that is a tough watch.
The footage contains distressing scenes as it charts a tough six months for Antonio from the wreckage of his Ferrari to his often difficult to watch rehabilitation at West Ham.
All set to a spine-tingling famous Rocky Balboa speech and inspirational comments from motivational speaker Inky Johnson.
“Faith will overcome all challenges,” Antonio says in the caption of the video, which you can watch below.
Striker’s tear-jerking video is tough watch but a must-watch
Be your own judge but for Antonio to release this video on the same day word has emerged that his contract talks have ground to a halt feels like more than a coincidence.
It could be the striker’s way of trying to show West Ham he deserves to stay for his perseverance.
Perhaps he has a point.
After all nobody in that West Ham dressing room would be as hungry and grateful as Antonio if a compromise can be reached over a new deal.
West Ham fans don’t have long to wait to find out.
But it appears on the basis of this and the recent reports, that this may not be the only heartbreaking video Antonio shares with Hammers supporters in the next month.