Fornals sends heartfelt message to West Ham’s Antonio after shock news
Michail Antonio has received a message from a former West Ham teammate after he returned to football for the first time since his horror injury.
West Ham struggled to compete in the Premier League last term, and Antonio was a big miss in their squad following a car crash in December that saw him suffer a broken leg.
The Jamaican international has become a cult-hero for the East London outfit over the last 10 years, with 83 goals scored and a key role played in their 2023 Europa Conference League triumph.
Antonio is set to depart the Hammers at the end of his contract this month, but he has battled back from his injury at 35-years-old to prove that he is not yet finished in football, and subsequently received overwhelming support on social media for doing so.
Pablo Fornals sends ‘blessed’ message to Michail Antonio after his surprise return to the pitch
Despite his recent woes, Dr Dan Plumley has told Football Insider that West Ham could still offer Antonio a new deal this summer, despite their recent announcement that he will become a free agent at the end of the month [West Ham].
They may well be reconsidering their decision based on new developments, as the 35-year-old proved his fitness in an emotional return to playing for Jamaica against Guatemala in the early hours of Tuesday, 17 June.
Alphonse Areola reacted with joy to Antonio’s return, but ex-Hammer Pablo Fornals also sent a message to his former teammate, taking to his Instagram stories to say: “You’re blessed” with a praying hands emoji in reaction to a celebratory post about Antonio.
Fornals and Antonio spent five years playing together for the Irons from 2019 to 2024, and were both key components of their Conference League victory in 2023, so West Ham supporters will no doubt be pleased to see the pair staying connected even after the Spaniard’s departure last year.
Antonio an option for newly-promoted Premier League side if he leaves West Ham
Football Insider verdict
Antonio insisted in March that his crash was “just another setback” [Guardian] in his career that has spanned 16 years and over 550 appearances for eight different professional clubs, so it is clear that he feels he has even more to offer in the game despite now being 35-years-old.
He has not been offered a new deal by the Irons’ hierarchy as yet, and right now it certainly seems unlikely, despite him proving his fitness, due to his age and the seriousness of his injury that he has not long recovered from.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 323 | 83 | 42 |
With that said, his past form and stellar experience at the top level is bound to be attractive to potential suitors this summer, and he would be a great capture for a newly-promoted Premier League side if he does officially depart the London Stadium.
Sunderland, for example, have a very young squad that is mostly made up of players that are yet to appear in the top-flight in their careers so far, so adding a player like Antonio to their ranks would make a lot of sense if he is fit and his wage demands align with the club’s structure.
Leeds United and Burnley should also be interested, but their potential to sign more high-profile players from overseas could mean that they do not see the 35-year-old as a viable option this summer.