Michail Antonio on joining TNT Sports, West Ham expectations and why England must select Jarrod Bowen for World Cup
Published 12/08/2025 at 12:05 GMT+1
Michail Antonio is joining TNT Sports as a pundit for the upcoming 2025/26 campaign and he cannot wait to get started. The former West Ham forward was part of the line-up for the UEFA Conference League final last season, and he is "excited" to bring you his expert analysis in the weeks and months ahead on TNT Sports and discovery+. He sits down to discuss his former club in more detail.
‘It could be unreal man’ – Fornals chats to Antonio ahead of Conference League final
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT Sports welcomes Michail Antonio to the football coverage team ahead of the highly-anticipated 2025/26 season.
The former West Ham forward joins Gareth Bale, Fara Williams, Anita Asante and Jen Beattie as the new faces to provide their footballing expertise on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The 35-year-old joins the team for our domestic and European football coverage this season.
Antonio got a taste of life as a pundit during TNT Sports' coverage of the UEFA Conference League final last season where Chelsea secured a 4-1 win over Spanish outfit Real Betis.
Speaking ahead of the new campaign, Antonio expressed his excitement about bringing his personality to the TV screens and how he has always been interested in the media.
The Jamaica international also discussed his time at West Ham, the club at which he spent a decade and became their all-time leading scorer in the Premier League.
"I’m very excited to join TNT Sports," Antonio says. "I’ve always made it known that I wanted to be a presenter and go into TV and they’ve given me the opportunity, and I’m looking forward to it."
Antonio has always been box-office entertainment during his footballing career. Whether that be on the pitch with his terrific forward play and unforgettable celebrations or his honesty during his interviews with the media.
He is now ready to show off his skills with the mic in front of the camera.
- TNT Sports: All the big competitions in one place for the 2025/26 season
- TNT Sports launches new campaign to kick off new football season: This is Not Normal
"It’s the freedom that you have in the media that I like," he explains. "I also like being on TV. You get the opportunity to express your opinion and that’s what I'm looking forward to.
"I never really wanted to go into something which was a 9-5 or becoming a coach which is 8am-8pm. I’ve been in football for a very long time and going from a footballer to a manager or a coach for me wasn't for me.
"I feel like TV suits my personality and I want to do something that I really enjoy.
When asked if he is ready to step up after Manchester United and England legend Rio Ferdinand's departure, Antonio responded with his signature laugh and said: "I thought he did well on TNT Sports, but obviously the man moved on now, so let’s see."
'No football match is the same'
Antonio is used to dealing with change as a professional footballer.
During his 10-year spell at West Ham, the forward played under four different managers - including two spells under David Moyes and five coaches if you include Graham Potter, although Antonio did not make an appearance under him.
The football landscape is constantly changing and Antonio pin-pointed the key from taking the step up from non-league to the heights of playing a starring role in the top-flight.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/05/28/4126171-83661073-2560-1440.jpg)
‘One of the best days of my life’ – Antonio on winning Conference League with West Ham
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Each week is unstable because no football match is the same," he explains ."You can’t play one way one week and play the exact same way the next weekend. That’s why people in the Premier League become who they are.
"So many people in non-league football have the quality but they’re not consistent enough to keep going. You need to find that consistency in the Premier League and the only way to do that is within yourself.
"You can’t rely on the manager or the owners, you have to rely on yourself and do what you know you can do. As long as you can do that as a professional, then it becomes easier for you."
'He’s coming for my record'
Antonio was full of praise for his former club team-mate Jarrod Bowen and claimed it was "crazy" that he was not included in the latest England squad.
Despite contributing 13 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League last season, the forward was left out of England's matches against Andorra and Senegal at the end of the campaign.
Antonio is adamant that Bowen deserves a chance to play for his country at next year's World Cup.
"I think he should’ve been called up to the last squad anyway," he says. "It was crazy he didn’t get called up when he was at his best.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/02/26/4102194-83181533-2560-1440.jpg)
Bowen ‘honoured’ to follow in footsteps of ‘legends’ by captaining West Ham
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I feel like some coaches find it easier to call up people who play at bigger clubs than actually call up the players who are performing the best.
"Hopefully, he gets called up because he is someone who creates something from nothing. He always pops up with a goal which is frustrating me because he’s coming for my record."
Bowen only needs to score 12 more times to match Antonio's record as the club's all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League, and there's only one way to stop the West Ham skipper from achieving that feat.
"I think he needs to move," Antonio laughs. "What he’s done at the club has been unbelievable but he’s done enough. The quality that he has, he needs to play in a top 4 club... joking not joking.
"Obviously the West Ham fans will be mad at me but I’m trying to protect my record and I’m also trying to help him out as well. At the end of the day with his quality, he needs to be winning something. West Ham fans, I love you guys but I’m trying to save myself."
'Team wants to get back into Europe'
The Hammers endured a disappointing campaign last season, finishing in 14th place in the league table and replacing Julen Lopetegui with Graham Potter during the campaign.
Although the team's form struggled to pick up after the managerial change, they did record impressive away wins at Arsenal and Manchester United, and Antonio is confident West Ham can fight for a European spot.
"If you’re going off the stats from last season, it appeared that Potter was worse than Lopetegui which is crazy," he said. "But we’re now heading into a new season and I’m sure the team wants to get back into Europe.
"Over the last 10 years at West Ham, we’d do well one season and then not so well the next. Last year was our slump year so now we want to pop back up again and go straight back into the European competitions whether that be the Europa or Conference League."
Antonio also believes that Lucas Paqueta will have a huge role to play for the Hammers next season after the midfielder was cleared of breaching the FA’s betting rules last month.
The Brazilian had been under investigation since August 2023 and his former team-mate believes that the case took a toll on his game, as he was facing a potential lifetime ban from football.
"He hid it well because I know for a fact that it would’ve really affected him," Antonio explains. "I also know that it definitely affected his football because before that happened, he was quality for us.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/11/image-ed84e888-ad78-4765-ba48-a2fe46de2ed4-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio celebrating together at West Ham.
Image credit: Getty Images
"He’s a number 10 and in that position, you have to be free and not having to think about what you’re doing.
"Everything he did was just off the cuff so the fact that he had something weighing so heavy on him, I feel he’s like a new signing for West Ham right now after the decision and he should be pivotal for them moving forward."
Antonio was also keen to give out advice about what it takes to play at the top level for a long time and broke down the importance of mindset in the game.
"It’s so hard for a footballer because when you’re playing the game, your mind should be free and that’s when you produce your best football. If you’re playing free, there’s nothing distracting you and blocking your path.
"If there’s something in your head, you have to overly focus and then you’re taking away your natural ability but that’s the key aspect that gives you the quality to be a professional footballer in the first place.
"If you’re now forcing things, it’s not natural anymore and if I take myself as an example, I’m no longer being Michail Antonio if I have that mindset, I’m now being somebody else."
Stream the Premier League, Serie A, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement