The West Ham United man put pen-to-paper on a new deal towards the end of last term.
West Ham’s Michail Antonio
Hammers winger Michail Antonio sat down for an exclusive interview with the club’s official website and explained how last season’s ongoing contract talks proved to be a distraction, and how happy he is that he and the club finally came to an agreement.
The 27-year-old has been a revelation for West Ham since he joined the club from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2015, for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 million.
That fee now seems like mere pocket change, with Antonio going on to score 17 goals in 55 Premier League outings – a quite remarkable tally considering he spent a prolonged period playing at right-back for Slaven Bilic’s side.
He has also earned call-ups to the England squad, and despite having not yet actually earned a cap, his debut for the Three Lions is surely only just around the corner.
And Antonio spoke to WHUFC.com about how last season’s contract talks could very well have been detrimental to his overall game:
“It was pleasing to get the deal done before the summer started. The contract talks went on for a long time and it can be quite distracting, so I’m looking forward to going out next season and playing with a free mind.”
West Ham United’s Michail Antonio celebrates
Antonio will be hoping to remain injury free next season, and help fire his Hammers side to a more successful season in the Premier League.
The West Ham faithful adore the 27-year-old winger, and by signing a new deal, he would have endeared himself to them even more so.
With his future now sorted out, and the World Cup on the horizon, Antonio could be on the verge of one of his most successful campaigns yet.
West Ham United’s Michail Antonio celebrates
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