West Ham forward Michail Antonio has weighed in on the continued exclusion of Ghanaian football star Andre Ayew from the Black Stars squad, attributing it to the natural cycle of football.

Speaking on Prime Take with Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, Antonio drew parallels between Ayew’s situation and his own experience in club football, emphasizing that age and the emergence of younger talents often drive such decisions.

“He’s getting a bit older now, obviously, and new boys are coming in,” Antonio explained. “It’s normal – it happens to all footballers. You move on from the older players and start introducing fresh talent.”

Antonio used his own journey at West Ham as an example. “Every year, they try to replace me with younger players,” he shared. “But here I am, still standing.

“It’s part of the game. As players age, clubs or teams start looking for something new, fresh quality. There are things you could do when you were younger that may not be as easy now – like running as fast or maintaining the same agility.”

Andre Ayew, once a cornerstone of the Black Stars, has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years as Ghana’s national team transitions to a younger generation of players.

His exclusion under Black Stars coach Otto Addo has sparked debates among fans, with some questioning whether it’s time for the team to move on from the veteran forward.

While Ayew’s leadership and experience are undeniable—he remains Ghana’s all-time leading scorer at the FIFA World Cup—Antonio’s perspective sheds light on the practical considerations coaches must weigh.

“It’s not personal; it’s just the nature of football,” Antonio added. “You can’t stay at the top forever. As tough as it is, it’s something every player faces.”

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