West Ham striker Michail Antonio makes Saudi decision after £9.4m contract tabled
West Ham striker Michail Antonio has turned down a move to Saudi Arabia, according to Tuttomercatoweb.
The online Italian news publication previously reported (13 August) that Antonio had received a contract offer worth £9.4million over two years from a club based in Saudi Arabia, but not one of the top four sides, which are Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli.
And an update has now been provided that the 33-year-old has said no to the lucrative contract offer.
Refreshing
It is a fresh change of pace to see a player coming toward the end of his current contract and heading toward the end of his playing career say no to a big-money move outside of Europe’s elite.
Many supporters might have expected Antonio to jump at one final payday, although it appears the striker is not interested. Perhaps the fact that it is not one of the bigger clubs in the country has had an impact on his decision to say no, but fans of West Ham will be hoping it is because he wants to give the club one final year.
Being their all-time record Premier League goalscorer, and having lifted a trophy with the East London outfit after winning the UEFA Europa Conference League last season, he could have quite easily left the London Stadium a legend.
However, for now, it seems his story with the Hammers is not yet complete.
In other West Ham news, fresh exit talks have emerged for one of the club’s unsettled stars.