Football is uniting on social media as well wishes pour in for Michail Antonio after he was involved in a car accident on Saturday.
Images of a wrecked Ferrari have emerged and the 34-year-old’s West Ham club confirm the striker has been involved in a road accident but is now in a stable condition.
Many emotions have been expressed towards Antonio from other football clubs, fellow professionals and football fans.
Piers Morgan was one of those who quickly sent his thoughts to Antonio writing about X: ‘Wow… this looks really bad. I hope he’s okay,” along with a prayer emoji.
Antonio’s former teammate Jobi McAnuff, who played alongside him at Reading, also took to Instagram to send his prayers.
“Thoughts and prayers for Michail and his family,” she wrote along with three prayer emojis.
Michail Antonio (left) has been involved in a car accident and is inundated with best wishes.
Photos of a wrecked Ferrari have emerged, reportedly showing the aftermath of the crash.
Another image appears to show the Premier League star’s wrecked vehicle.
Piers Morgan took to X on Saturday afternoon to send his best wishes to the West Ham striker.
Several clubs in England have also sent their thoughts to Antonio, his loved ones and West Ham following the news, including Liverpool, Chelsea and his former team Sheffield Wednesday.
Joel Beya wrote on X: ‘Praying for Michail, quick response please #IJN’, along with a love heart emoji.
West Ham’s initial statement about Antonio read: “West Ham United can confirm that striker Michail Antonio has been involved in a road traffic accident today,” a West Ham statement read.
‘The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the Club are with Michail, his family and friends at this time.
“The Club will publish an update in due course.”
However, they have since provided an update, reporting that it is in stable condition.
‘West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is stable following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area.
‘Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision in a central London hospital.
‘At this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family.
“The Club will not be making any further comment this afternoon but will issue a further update in due course.”
Following the accident, images appeared on social media showing extensive damage to the vehicle.
Antonio had already been involved in a car accident on Christmas Day 2019.
The footballer had crashed his £210,000 Lamborghini Huracan into a rubbish shed at a family home in Balham, south London, while dressed as a snowman after losing control of his car.
Antonio had opened up about the financial consequences of the 2021 accident.
‘I had a hard time getting insurance this year,’ he said in 2021. ‘No one wanted to insure me!
‘I had to go to a specialist insurance company, so my insurance this year is crazy! I have a G63 now. They were offering me £10,000 for an (Audi) A3 to insure, or get a G63 and pay double the price but be able to drive a G63 instead of an A3.
‘I’d rather pay £20,000 and drive a G63 than pay £10,000 and drive an A3.
‘It was Christmas Day. It still hurts me today. I miss that car. Basically, I was driving but the road was slippery.
‘In the car, it corners very well and stays on the road, so I was doing 30-35mph on a 30mph road. Since it holds the corners, I don’t think I need to break, I’m just going to turn the corner like I do all the time.
But when I turn the corner, it skids. So while it’s skidding, I shit and slam on the brakes, the worst thing you can do on ice since you’re just accelerating when you’re supposed to be going forward.
“So I hit the brakes, skidded and went on the sidewalk, but I don’t really remember it, it all happened so fast.”
“Then there’s smoke coming out of the front of the car and the engine is in the back, so I’m thinking ‘the car’s going to explode!’, even if it’s just the airbags.
‘So I have to jump out of the passenger side of the little car. It’s crazy.
‘And the thing is, I was also dressed as a snowman. I don’t understand why I didn’t take it out and fix it.
On Christmas Day 2019, Michail Antonio crashed his car into the garden of a house in London
Antonio is seen getting out of his £210,000 Lamborghini after crashing into a front garden.
Antonio was dressed as a snowman after club training that morning
Jamaica international Antonio is in his tenth season with West Ham after joining the club from Nottingham Forest in 2015. He has scored 83 goals in 323 appearances for the London side.
The 34-year-old began his football journey with Tooting and Mitcham in non-league before moving into the professional ranks with Reading.
He has also played at Cheltenham, Southampton, Colchester and Sheffield Wednesday.
West Ham host Wolves on Monday night in the Premier League.