‘You have to be more of a fighter, and he’s NOT’: West Ham’s Mikhail Antonio brutally criticizes £30m teammate Gianluca Scamacca…and isn’t too complimentary about David Moyes’ direct style of play either
- West Ham striker Mikhail Antonio has lashed out at teammate Gianluca Scamacca
- Italian has struggled for form and fitness in his first season with the Hammers
- And Antonio insists the £30million summer signing is struggling because he’s ‘not a fighter’
Mikhail Antonio has delivered brutally honest criticism of West Ham teammate Gianluca Scamacca.
£30 million striker Scamacca, along with Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta, were the main signings of the club’s 2022 summer transfer window.
But he endured a tough debut season, scoring just three Premier League goals in 16 games and struggling to maintain consistent form and fitness.
And speak on the Dirty guys podcast, fellow striker Antonio questioned his suitability for manager David Moyes’ style of play – suggesting that Scamacca will find it difficult to succeed under the Scotsman.
He said, ‘I’m going to be honest with you. He is actually quality. He is a quality player.
Mikhail Antonio has openly criticized West Ham teammate Gianluca Scamacca
Speaking on a podcast, the striker (centre) claimed the £30million Italian is ‘not a fighter’
Antonio added that Scamacca is ‘quality’ but struggles to match manager David Moyes’ style of play
Mikhail Antonio about Gianluca Scamacca:
¿With David Moyes you have to feed on leftovers, be a fighter¿ and he isn’t.
— West Ham Central (@WestHam_Central) May 31, 2023
“The problem is he can’t play the way the gaffer (Moyes) plays. He needs a different type of manager to play his type of football.
“He needs a manager (where) he can play and let other players come from him and things like that. You see, the ball enters him and he sticks, he is neat.
“But how David Moyes plays is more like you’re up front, you’re dealing with scraps and you have to be more of a fighter, and he’s not.”
West Ham signed the 23-year-old after a fine season with Sassuolo in Serie A, in which he scored 16 goals in 38 games and made his breakthrough in the Italian national team.
He found the net five times in nine appearances in the Europa Conference League, but has been out since January with a knee injury.
Scamacca’s arrival was designed to provide cover and competition for veteran Antonio, 33, who has scored just five league goals this season.
But given his long-term injury, Moyes signed Danny Ings from West Ham late in January, potentially pushing Scamacca further down the pecking order.
Ings scored just three times in 22 appearances in all competitions for East London.