But in the end, the Bees decided not to proceed with the signing of the Jamaican international, who is still searching for a new team after the serious car accident that almost cost him his life last season.

Antonio's life changed forever on 7 December 2024. That night, the West Ham striker was involved in a devastating car crash that left him with multiple fractures and ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Months of rehabilitation followed. The 35-year-old worked tirelessly to regain fitness and recently joined Brentford on trial, hoping to reignite his career. Fate, however, had other plans. The Bees were set to face the Hammers — his former club — but Antonio would not feature.

"Michail trained with us for about a week, maybe ten days," Brentford assistant coach Keith Andrews explained ahead of Monday's fixture. "He picked up a small knock, so he's been in and out of sessions. Ultimately, we've decided not to move forward."

That decision spared West Ham the emotional prospect of facing their all-time top scorer in the Premier League era — a player who scored 68 goals and became a modern club icon before his release following the accident.

Months after the crash, Antonio opened up to the BBC about the terrifying experience that almost ended his life.

"The police came, and when they found me, I was between the two front seats," he recalled. "They said it looked like I was trying to climb out of the window, but my leg was so badly broken that the pain must've stopped me."

It was only later, when he saw the wreckage, that the full weight of what had happened truly hit him.

"It gave me a weird feeling in my stomach," he said. "I realised how close I was to dying. I'd seen photos, but seeing the car in person was ten times worse — it was a complete mess. The hardest part was knowing I could've not been there for my kids."

Now back in light training, Antonio remains determined to return to professional football. His journey — from the wreckage to recovery — is a reminder of both his resilience and his deep love for the game that nearly slipped away.

M. Antonio

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