Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterWhat's a footballer to do when he has a great move on the table and his manager won't let him go?It's a position that many professional players find themselves in at some stage or another - and for Michail Antonio, it was particularly frustrating given his chairman and manager were at odds as to whether to sell him or not.Antonio was plying his trade at troubled Nottingham Forest in the Championship at the time, and his sudden consistency at the age of 25 after years of up-and-down performances had landed him on the radar of a few top-flight clubs.'West Ham came in and Forest werent answering their calls'Antonio told FourFourTwo: "I had the players around me and everything just clicked."I found what Id needed before that, when I hadnt been consistent - Id have a great game, Id be a nine out of 10, then the next game Id be a two or a three. At Forest and West Ham, I found the consistency to be seven out of 10 in every game." You may like At West Ham, I told Slaven Bilic Ill never play at right-back! Mark Noble argued with me, so I stormed off and got a taxi home Michail Antonio on his shifting roles at West Ham How Michail Antonio's mother influenced his early football career by rejecting a Spurs offer Karren Brady offered me a �5k a week deal with the U21s, I said, 'The U21s are on more than that' Her response was, 'Well, they havent been in a car crash and shattered their leg' I didnt sign the contract Michail Antonio on his West Ham rejection Antonio's performances inevitably attracted the attention of Premier League clubs - but actually getting Forest to allow him to take one of those moves was more difficult than he would have liked and left him feeling like he was forced to take matters into his own hands.He explained: "All I wanted for my entire career was to get to the Premier League, but Dougie Freedman was the Forest manager he had the same agency as me, and kept telling me and the agency that hed help me to get out.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."I believed him - but then I found out West Brom had put a bid in and the club had turned it down."Then West Ham came in and Forest werent answering their calls. I said, 'Look, youre not answering any calls, Im one of the lowest-paid players at the club, either double my wages or let me go I dont mind playing in the Premier League on less money, because my dream is to get there'."They couldnt increase my wages because they were under an embargo, and [Freedman] kept blaming the owner Fawaz [Al Hasawi], saying he didnt want to let me go. But Fawaz needed the money to get out of the embargo, so I just thought Im pretty sure [Fawaz] wants to sell me. What to read next I sat on the bench for two months, so someone tweeted a picture of me to David Gold saying 'Missing person' and he retweeted. It was hilarious Michail Antonio on a curious incident from his early West Ham days Michail Antonio wanted West Ham to get relegated after sour end to Hammers career From debut challenges to record scorer: Michail Antonio recalls his West Ham highlights " One day, I went into the training ground and was like, 'Gaffer, West Ham are going to put a bid in today and I need you to accept it'."Later, as I was about to go home for the day, Fawaz walked in and I said, 'Mr Chairman, can I have a chat? Dougie, Fawaz is here, we might as well have a meeting together now'."Dougie had a face of thunder. I found out he was blocking the deal because he couldnt sign anyone and I was his best player. He was trying to stop my dreams, for himself."Later, I sent him a long text saying, 'If Im at this club, dont tell me any tactics, dont talk to me, Ill be out on that pitch playing for myself you wont be my manager, Ill be out there managing myself'."Within two days I was at West Ham."TOPICSMichail AntonioDougie FreedmanNottingham ForestWest Ham UnitedPremier LeagueSteven ChickenSocial Links NavigationSteven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication,WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.With contributions fromChris FlanaganSenior Staff Writer
