Michail Antonio, West Ham United's record Premier League goalscorer, has opened up about the darker side of football, his battle with mental health, and the club's decline in a revealing new book titled Humans Not Robots. In an interview, the 36-year-old forward discussed the trauma of his car crash in December 2024, the aftermath of West Ham's Conference League triumph, and the challenges of navigating a sport he describes as full of 'snakes'.
Therapy and Demons
Antonio admitted he never thought he needed therapy, despite carrying deep-seated demons. 'I was always a happy person. But I had so many demons,' he said. It took the intervention of West Ham's head physio to push him toward professional help. 'I felt like therapy was something for crazy people,' he confessed, but he feared he was veering toward depression. 'I was stuck in limbo. I was going to training and everything just seemed a blur. If I went any longer, I probably would have fallen into depression.'
The Conference League Final Aftermath
Antonio revealed that after West Ham's 2023 Conference League final victory over Fiorentina, he was unable to celebrate properly. A row with his ex-partner during the celebrations left him drained. 'I just couldn't muster the energy to go and enjoy myself,' he said. 'In the changing rooms, it's crazy. No one really cares as long as you're performing.'
Contract Disputes and Feeling Undervalued
Antonio, who joined West Ham in 2015, established himself as a club legend with 68 goals in 268 Premier League appearances. However, he felt undervalued during contract negotiations with co-owner David Sullivan. 'They wanted to pay me like a right-back,' he said. 'Every time they brought in a new player, they got the big contracts. They would constantly bring someone else in on more than what I was getting, even though I was out there doing the job.'
Departure and Criticism of Graham Potter
Antonio left West Ham in the summer of 2025 after a fraught contract renewal process. He blamed manager Graham Potter for the breakdown. 'He kept saying: 'We're going to see what's going on with your contract, I'm going to leave it with the owner.' Then I'd speak to the owner and he'd say: 'Graham doesn't want you.'' Antonio criticized Potter for letting too many experienced players leave, contributing to West Ham's relegation. 'They got rid of the core of the senior group,' he said, naming himself, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Edson Alvarez, and Aaron Cresswell.
The Hidden Side of Football
Antonio spoke about the expendability of players. 'People do treat players like meat,' he said. 'As soon as you get a bit stale, they start getting rid of you.' He also discussed the prevalence of 'snakes' in the sport. 'There are 30 people battling for 11 spots. Those 19 people not playing are at times bitching about the players who are. There's so many snakes in football, so many people who are fake. I've only got two, maybe three footballer friends.'
Reflections on Fatherhood and Resilience
The father of seven said therapy changed his approach to parenting. 'My first child, he's 14 now. How I raised him and my other kids before therapy is completely different to my other kids. When my son was crying for no reason I was like: 'Stop crying'. But he's crying because it's his emotions that he's trying to let out. Now I let them cry for a little bit.' Antonio said he does not push his children into football, acknowledging the industry's harsh realities. 'If you haven't got resilience, you cannot be a football player.'
Moving Forward
Antonio, who is considering retirement, has worked as a pundit and dreams of hosting a gameshow. He remains free of bitterness but is often reminded of his car crash. 'All the time. It has been nearly two years now. It was massive. I did almost die, but it's about moving forward.'
Humans Not Robots by Michail Antonio (HarperCollins) is published on 4 June.
