Michail Antonio blasts disgraceful fans over Harry Maguire criticism says the Man United player has been reduced to ‘half a man’

Michail Antonio blasts disgraceful fans for harsh criticism of Harry Maguire and blames them for breaking his mental strength.

Michail Antonio blasts disgraceful fans over Harry Maguire criticism says the Man United player has been reduced to ‘half a man’

Harry Maguire and Michail Antonio (Via IMAGO)

West Ham striker Michail Antonio has become the most recent footballer to speak out in support of Harry Maguire. The English defender has been on the butt of extreme bullying and abuse on social media for his mediocre performances. The recent criticisms come after England’s 3-1 victory over Scotland in which Maguire scored an own goal.

Pundit Jamie Carragher also suggested that Maguire should be excluded from the EURO 2024 squad. Antonio vehemently criticized the intense scrutiny and criticism aimed at the Manchester United player, deeming the treatment “embarrassing.” He also expressed his astonishment and disbelief at how one person could consistently become the scapegoat and shoulder the blame for mishaps on the pitch.

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Antonio further emphasized players’ humanity and mental strength in such extreme situations. He also talks about the ill effects it could have on someone’s behavior and self-confidence, as he says the recent abuse has reduced Maguire to ‘half of the man‘ that he used to be. He had also been vocal about the player joining West Ham as the club bid 30 million euros for the player, only for United to reject it.

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England manager Gareth Southgate also condemned the ‘ridiculous treatment,’ and his mother, Zoe Maguire, labeled the abuse ‘unacceptable.’ His former manager, Brendan Rogers, had also called out his club’s supporters for being too harsh on the player. As we enter an era of social media and controversy, we must consider mental well-being and solutions to address such problems to promote a healthy sport.

Related: Jadon Sancho’s removal from first-team training is reportedly for REFUSING to apologize to Erik Ten Hag

Lucas Paqueta poised to show Manchester City what they will be missing

Lucas Paqueta
West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta (via TheAthletic)

Lucas Paqueta’s potential move to Manchester City loomed large in early August as the Premier League champions sought to bolster their squad with a £60 million bid, prompted by the injury absence of star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. However, West Ham held a strong negotiation position, having already cashed in on Declan Rice. The Brazilian midfielder’s departure appeared imminent if Pep Guardiola decided to finalize the deal.

Yet, unexpectedly, discussions stopped, and City turned their attention to Matheus Nunes of Wolves. West Ham, for now, retains the services of Paqueta, which has proven to be a fortunate twist for the club. Despite the ongoing FA investigation into potential betting breaches involving suspicious wagers on Paqueta receiving yellow cards, the Brazilian playmaker has displayed an exceptional commitment to his on-field performance for West Ham.

David Moyes aims to make West Ham a more attacking team this season while maintaining their strong defense, building on the defensive foundation that defined his previous stint as manager. The team is keen to enhance its goal-scoring compared to last season. Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen have also made excellent starts, adding to Paqueta’s impact as West Ham seeks to continue their early-season solid performance.

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