Michail Antonio ‘cried for a day’ after failed return as surprise Qatar switch explained

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Michail Antonio has revealed that he broke down in tears after seeing a return to the Premier League fall apart. The striker left West Ham at the end of last season following a devastating car crash.

Antonio was left with a broken leg after the accident and required lengthy treatment in hospital. Having returned to action for national side Jamaica, the 35-year-old remained keen to find a new club.

"I've still got the qualities I had in the Premier League for the past 10 years," said Antonio to BBC Sport . "It shows, because every single manager was putting a contract in front of me once I trained with them.

"But there were managers and clubs who refused to look at me because of what happened - the accident, the injury. Some owners went against it. In football, the manager can want you, but it's the owner's money.

"My agent kept calling clubs, and the same thing happened - clubs wanted me to train first. With the ego I had, I said 'I'm not coming to train. You've seen me play with Jamaica, you've seen my past 10 years. I shouldn't have to train to get a contract.' Clubs said 'if you don't train, we won't sign you'.

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"After staying at West Ham, training with the under-21s and going away with Jamaica again, my agent said 'you're going to have to train, prove your fitness.'

"I had to swallow my ego - that's how I ended up at Brentford. I trained with them for two weeks."

Antonio had trials with Brentford , Leicester City and Charlton Athletic , albeit injury issues ruined his chances of signing for the former two. Speaking about that blow, he said: "When I found out I'd torn my calf the day before signing for Brentford, I laid in bed for two days.

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"First day, I was just crying. The second day, I just didn't want to get out of bed. I thought 'I'm back where I want to be, I'm back in the Premier League'. And then it happened again with Leicester.

"I was meant to return to Leicester but they didn't want me back in because they didn't want a relapse on their books. So I trained alone for a week and then went into Charlton."

Antonio eventually managed to find a new club, having chosen to sign for Qatari side Al-Sailiya on a deal until the end of the season.

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