Michail Antonio Urges Peace as Career Restarts With Qatari Club Al Sailiya
Jamaica international Michail Antonio says he is praying for peace across the Middle East following confirmation of his move to Qatari club Al Sailiya.
Confirmation of the transfer comes with the 35-year-old forward joining the Qatari outfit after becoming a free agent when his West Ham United contract expired at the end of last season.
Regional tensions have escalated in recent weeks as conflict in the Middle East intensified after strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.
Retaliatory attacks from Iran have struck several locations across the region, including countries previously regarded as safe havens.
Among the incidents reported were strikes that hit two Amazon data centres in the United Arab Emirates as well as a drone impact near another facility in Bahrain that caused damage, according to the company on Tuesday.
Energy infrastructure in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia has also been targeted by Iran, while several ships have come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes.
Qatar said on Monday that its Air Force shot down two Iranian warplanes.
“First and foremost, I’m praying that God brings peace to the whole region and around the world and keeps everyone safe,” Antonio said in a post on his Instagram Stories. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to step back onto the pitch when the time is right and do what I love.”
The striker had not featured for West Ham during the eight months leading up to his departure after suffering multiple leg fractures in a car crash in December 2024.
Competitive action since that incident has been limited to just three appearances, all of which came for the Jamaican national team.
Antonio departed West Ham as the club’s all-time leading Premier League scorer with 68 goals.
Securing a new club proved difficult for the veteran forward, who admitted he had to “swallow” his ego to accept an offer that would allow him to return to playing.
Training briefly with Charlton Athletic formed part of his preparations before he ultimately agreed to join Al Sailiya on a deal running until the end of the season.
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