The football world is uniting on social media as well wishes pour in for Michail Antonio after he was involved in a car crash on Saturday.
Images have emerged of a wrecked Ferrari and 34-year-old club West Ham confirmed the striker was involved in a road accident but is now in a stable condition.
There has been an outpouring of emotions towards Antonio from other football clubs, fellow professionals and football fans.
Piers Morgan was among those who quickly sent his thoughts to Antonio, writing of X: ‘Wow… this looks really bad. I hope he’s doing well,” alongside a prayer emoji.
Antonio’s former teammate Jobi McAnuff, who played alongside him at Reading, also sent his prayers via Instagram.
“Thoughts and prayers to Mikhail and his family,” he wrote alongside three prayer emojis.
Michail Antonio (left) has been involved in a car accident and good wishes are pouring in for him
Photos have emerged of a wrecked Ferrari, reportedly showing the aftermath of the crash
Piers Morgan headed to X on Saturday afternoon to send his best wishes to the West Ham striker
Several clubs across England have also sent their thoughts to Antonio, his loved ones and West Ham following the news, including Liverpool, Chelsea and his former club Sheffield Wednesday.
West Ham’s first statement on Antonio read: “West Ham United can confirm that striker Michail Antonio has been involved in a road traffic accident today,” read a West Ham statement.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the Club are with Mikhail, his family and friends at this time.
‘The Club will provide an update in due course.’
However, they have since provided an update reporting that he is in stable condition.
‘West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident in the Essex area this afternoon.
Mikhail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision in a hospital in central London.
During this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family.
‘The Club has no further comment to make this evening, but will provide a further update in due course.’
After the crash, photos appeared on social media showing extensive damage to the vehicle.
Antonio was previously involved in a car accident on Christmas Day in 2019.
The footballer had crashed his £210,000 Lamborghini Huracan into a bin 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 impact of the 2021 crash.
“I had trouble getting insurance this year,” said in 2021. “Nobody wanted to insure me!”
‘I had to go to a specialist insurance company, so my insurance this year is madness! I now have a G63. They offered me £10,000 for one [Audi] A3 to insure, or buy a G63 and pay double the price but drive a G63 instead of an A3.
‘I’d rather pay €20,000 and drive a G63 than €10,000 and drive an A3.
‘It was Christmas Day. It still hurts me to this day. I miss that car. Actually I was driving, but it was a slippery road.
‘In the car it turns nicely and holds the road well, so I was doing 30-55 km/h on a 50 km/h road. Since there are corners in it, I think I don’t have to break, I just go around the corner like I always do.
‘But when I turn the corner, it skids. So while he’s skidding, I fuck myself and hit the brakes – the worst thing you can do on ice when you’re just accelerating when you’re supposed to just keep going.
‘So I hit the brakes, skidded and went onto the curb – but I can’t really remember, everything just happened so quickly.
“Then there’s smoke coming out of the front of the car and the engine’s in the back, so I’m thinking ‘the car’s going to explode!’, even though it’s just the airbags.
“So I have to jump out of the passenger side of the little car. It’s madness.
“And the thing is, I was in a snowman costume too. I don’t understand why I didn’t get it out of there and fix it.”
Antonio, a Jamaica international, is in his tenth season at West Ham after joining the club from Nottingham Forest in 2015. He scored 83 goals in 323 games for London.
The 34-year-old started his football career at non-League Tooting and Mitcham before making the step up to the professional ranks with Reading.
He has also had spells at Cheltenham, Southampton, Colchester and Sheffield Wednesday.