Pompey weighed up a move for Michail Antonio but ultimately opted against a free-transfer swoop, according to John Mousinho.
Michail Antonio admitted he had to swallow his ego as he went in search of a fresh start following his near-fatal car crash in December 2024.
And the striker has lifted the lid on his shock move to Qatar as he bids to get his career back on track following a 15-month lay-off.
The 35-year-old was involved in a significant car crash in Essex in late 2024, which left his femur shattered in four separate places.
Antonio recovered in time to feature for Jamaica in the Gold Cup last summer – his first competitive action since the accident – but was then released West Ham and Graham Potter.
Pompey decision over Michail Anto
After unsuccessful spells on trial with Leicester City, Charlton Athletic and Brentford, the experienced frontman appeared on the radar of some members of the Fratton faithful.
John Mousinho revealed the ex-Nottingham Forest man was weighed-up before the Blues’ football operations opted against a swoop.
Since then, Antonio has made a shock move to Qatari outfit Al-Sailiya, where he penned a short-term deal for the remainder of the season prior to the start of the conflict in the Middle East.
In an honest interview with BBC Sport, the Jamaica international has opened up about the difficulties of finding a new club – and why he chose Qatar as his next career destination.
Michail Antonio lifts lid on search for new club amid Pompey decision
He said: ‘I’ve still got the qualities I had in the Premier League for the past 10 years. It shows, because every single manager was putting a contract in front of me once I trained with them.
‘But there were managers and clubs who refused to look at me because of what happened – the accident, the injury. Some owners went against it. In football, the manager can want you, but it’s the owner’s money.
‘My agent kept calling clubs, and the same thing happened – clubs wanted me to train first. With the ego I had, I said ‘I’m not coming to train. You’ve seen me play with Jamaica, you’ve seen my past 10 years. I shouldn’t have to train to get a contract.’ Clubs said ‘if you don’t train, we won’t sign you’
‘After staying at West Ham, training with the under-21s and going away with Jamaica again, my agent said ‘you’re going to have to train, prove your fitness.’
‘I had to swallow my ego – that’s how I ended up at Brentford. I trained with them for two weeks.
‘When I found out I’d torn my calf the day before signing for Brentford, I laid in bed for two days. First day, I was just crying. The second day, I just didn’t want to get out of bed. I thought ‘I’m back where I want to be, I’m back in the Premier League’. And then it happened again with Leicester.
‘I was meant to return to Leicester but they didn’t want me back in because they didn’t want a relapse on their books. So I trained alone for a week and then went into Charlton.’
‘Whatever happens in the summer, happens. I need to focus on the first goal, playing games and being fit. If I stay fit, I’ll perform and score goals. I feel like the best possibility of staying fit is out here rather than playing Tuesdays and Saturdays.
‘To be honest, I don’t really know what type of criticism people are talking about, but since I’ve been here – and I’ve been here during Ramadan – it’s been all right for me,” he replied.
‘From my experience, and from the people I’ve spoken to, they’ve really enjoyed it here.’
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