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7 months ago
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“I’m going to knock him out!” Even Kyle Walker was a victim of Neal Maupay during Manchester City’s victory at Brentford on Monday evening (3-1). The reason for this altercation? The Bees striker would have made fun of his opponent’s marital woes “Ref (Referee, referee in English), he talked about my children, not once, but twice.” It has almost become a habit in England. In almost every match, the Frenchman is at the heart of a disturbance, either by provoking it or by being the target of his opponents, who know his temperament and quiet character very well.
Between his celebrations, his trashtalking or even different contacts on the ground which lead to the start of a fight, Maupay knows how to diversify to be the center of attention. A week before Walker, it was with James Maddison that he had a fight. After opening the score, the former Brest player celebrated in the style of a Tottenham midfielder, by miming throwing a dart into the target. Obviously, it didn’t please. The two men also heated up on the pitch, before Brennan Johnson and Richarlison took revenge by reproducing the dart celebration on the Spurs victory goals.
“More goals and fewer relegations in my career than James Maddison”
The Frenchman had already reproduced Wilfried Zaha’s celebration against Palace in 2021, with his hands behind his ears and his tongue hanging out. It just goes to show that he’s starting to make enemies all over the Premier League. “I just told him he probably hasn’t scored enough goals in recent years to have his own celebration, so he probably had to copy mine” Maddison laughed. Response from Maupay on social networks. “More goals and fewer relegations in my career than James Maddison.” On December 17 against Aston Villa, it was with Emiliano Martinez that he clashed. This time, he had rather taken the good role against the Argentinian goalkeeper, accustomed to bloody blows.
The world champion received a warning after literally lifting the attacker by the jersey and accusing him of remaining on the ground. Maupay had stood up to three opponents in this action and it was Unai Emery himself who went to calm down his goalkeeper, who was very angry, and responsible for the start of a general gathering. Boubacar Kamara was completely expelled. The behavior of El Dibu Martinez did not please England. A journalist from Daily Mail had even let loose on him. “I’ll upset people if I say that, but I think about it. He’s a very good goalkeeper, but a bit stupid.”
“Martinez should be grateful to me instead”
Even Brentford made fun of him through a video posted on social networks. If the goalkeeper got angry with the player trained at OGC Nice, it was because there had been a first episode. Earlier in the match, contact had taken place between the two men, when the ball had just left the playing area. Martinez had collapsed holding his shoulder, under the hilarious gaze of the cursed French, who quickly went to take the corner. The Bees also had a field day, taking advantage of the Argentinian’s reputation. “All the best with your injury recovery Emi.”
Even Maupay added a layer. A few days after this incident, he gave an interview to SPORTS Bible in which he returned to the altercation. “Martinez should be grateful to me, right?” He is referring here to Bernd Leno’s injury which he caused in June 2020 during a Brighton-Arsenal match. Hit in the knee ligaments following contact with the attacker, the German, furious with his opponent on his stretcher, gave way to his replacement, a certain Emiliano Martinez. A real turning point in his career since his performances were excellent and allowed him to become number one with the Albiceleste. We know the outcome of this butterfly effect.
It ended Guendouzi’s career at Arsenal
“Obviously, because Leno got injured against me and then he (Martinez) was able to play and then get selected for Argentinarewinds Maupay. It was so unfortunate that Leno got hurt. I’m on very good terms with him now that he’s at Fulham. I never tried to hurt him.” This famous Brighton-Arsenal is a bit what launched his reputation as a “dirty kid”, the fault also of Mattéo Guendouzi, another fan of trashtalk. After a match full of tension, particularly between the two compatriots, the former Lorient player grabbed his opponent by the throat, who collapsed. A bad gesture which made the headlines in the English media.
Once again, it is Maupay who takes on the role of the victim. “Some of their players need to learn what humility is, especially one of themreacted the person concerned by pointing to Guendouzi without naming him. He talked the whole game. He spoke very badly and I’m not going to repeat what he said in French otherwise I’ll get in trouble. When I scored, I told him: ‘Listen, this is what happens when you talk too much on the pitch.’ A statement, which, over time, makes you smile but at the time Guendouzi had paid dearly for it. Mikel Arteta shelved him because of his attitude. He never played for the Gunners again. It was on this day that Maupay began to build his reputation as a bad boy of the Premier League.
