Michail Antonio has shared that his West Ham United teammate, Lucas Paqueta, has told him that Richarlison ‘won’t shake his hand’ when West Ham United meet Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Last season, the West Ham hitman joked about the fact that Richarlison, who was a club-record transfer at Tottenham, had more yellow cards than goals and how he always celebrates a goal by taking his shirt off.
Michail Antonio made these comments alongside Newcastle’s Callum Wilson, but he made it clear that it was just ‘banter’ and how some people are ‘touchy’, as he told The Footballer’s Football Podcast.
Those initial comments last season did draw a response from Richarlison, who was sure to mention that he has more World Cup goals than the duo.
But it seems as though Antonio was keen to make sure that there was no issue between the two, as he has spoken to Lucas Paqueta, also a Brazil international, about the situation.
Whilst the Hammers midfielder understands that Antonio is a light-hearted person and there is no ill-feeling, it seems as though Richarlison has still taken it personally.
On if Spurs need to sign another striker: “I am no longer commenting on Richarlison,” said Antonio. “It’s got to the stage where I feel that some people are a little touchy.
“I am not going to talk about the person that is in that position. I am just going to say that Tottenham need a striker. I will leave it at that – It’s banter. We banter with each other (regarding his comments about Richarlison).
“I have gone to Paqueta. They play with each other. I have said ‘what’s wrong with your boy? It’s a bit of banter. I don’t understand why he is taking it so personally’, to the stage where his manager has to talk.
“Lucas is like ‘it’s just how he is, Mickey. I told him that’s how you are. But he says ‘no, no, no. When we play against them. I am not going to shake his hand’.” laughed the Hammers player.
Tottenham v West Ham
On December 5, West Ham will travel across London to take on Spurs and it will be interesting to see if Richarlison indeed decides against shaking Antonio’s hand.
Of course, that’s if he is still at the club because there is talk of a possible transfer to Saudi Arabia this summer.
Either way, it does seem as though Richarlison has taken his comments too seriously because he meant it with no disrespect, other than typical dressing room banter being played out in the public eye of a podcast.
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