Michail Antonio signed a deal to continue his career in Qatar, shortly before the conflict in the Middle East began, with the ex-West Ham star seeing bombs on the day of his debut
07:42, 19 Mar 2026Updated 07:42, 19 Mar 2026
Michail Antonio has found himself playing in Qatar as the military action ramps up in the Middle East(Image: Getty Images)
Former West Ham star Michail Antonio has headed to Qatar to continue his career, just as the conflict in the Middle East begins, which left him hearing bombs on the day of his debut.
The former Hammer only joined Al Sailiya this month as he continues his comeback from the horror car crash that nearly took his life in December 2024. But military action continues in and around Qatar as Iran hit back at attacks from America and Israel with airstrikes.
Officials in Doha said some of the attacks were aimed at civilian infrastructure – which would explain the blasts, shaking buildings and panic that Antonio has seen first hand.
The striker claims he does feel safe, despite the news of people trying to flee the Middle East, but the attacks did leave their mark on him before his first game in Qatar as he witnessed the attacks up close.
He told talkSPORT: “Since I’ve been here, you do hear loud bangs and stuff, but you never really get to see anything. So, I’ve not had the experience of anything crazy going on here, so that’s the reason I do feel quite safe here…it reassures me that I’m okay here and I’m safe here.
READ MORE: Michail Antonio ‘cried for a day’ after failed return as surprise Qatar switch explainedREAD MORE: Michail Antonio in talks with London club over return after horror car crash
“The day I was meant to make my debut, that was a frightening day, hearing bombs and the hotel was shaking, that was terrifying… I looked out the window and saw flames from the bombs flying, that was the only day that was scary for me.”
Antonio’s Al Sailiya debut ended in a 4-0 defeat to Al Duhail last week, but he was happy to be back playing with his exit from the London Stadium still not sitting well with him. He spent a decade on West Ham’s books and his 68 goals make him the club’s most prolific scorer in the Premier League era.
Antonio trained with a host of clubs after leaving West Ham(Image: Getty Images)
“I was very disappointed,” he admitted. “To be honest, I felt like, being at the club for ten years, being one of their main players for ten years, playing up until the day I crashed the car, I started most games until that day, I would have thought they’d have given me an opportunity to try and prove myself after and offer me a contract.”
Instead the club opted to part ways and it left Antonio having to look elsewhere to continue playing in his mid 30s. He had spells training with Leicester and Brentford as he attempted to earn himself another deal in English football, but ultimately missed out and has found a new home in Qatar.
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