Neal Maupay has claimed that he has no problem with James Maddison and insisted his antagonism of the Tottenham midfielder is simply ‘banter’ akin to what he’s dish out to his friends.
The striker, who recently ended a season-long loan at Brentford, pulled a number of stunts during the last campaign but Maddison was the target of his sharpest jibes.
However, Maupay has claimed that there is no animosity from his side and said he just enjoys having a bit of laugh – even if it is at the expense of his fellow professional footballers.
You need to ask him. From my side, I’ve got no problem with him or anyone.’ He told talkSPORT. ‘I know when I do things like that and we lose the game they will come for me.
‘That’s fine, I can take it. For me, football is a game and growing up I did the same stuff. I don’t want to stop now.’
Neal Maupay has claimed that he has no problem with James Maddison and just enjoys having a laugh
Neal Maupay brutally mocked James Maddison after he was axed by England, posting a photo of him holding darts
The 27-year-old’s most recent barb towards the Spurs man came last week following the news that he had been axed from Gareth Southgate’s final England squad that will head to the European Championships.
The Frenchman posted a photograph of him clutching a trio of darts in front of a board, mocking Maddison’s trademark celebration.
Maddison is known for his darts-throwing celebration and even invited Luke Littler as a special guest to Tottenham’s match against Bournemouth last year.
Maupay left blood boiling in January when he copied that celebration after firing Brentford ahead against Spurs, with Ivan Toney joining in on the mockery.
The pair shared a heated exchange after the celebration, though Maddison and Tottenham ultimately had last laugh by taking three points.
It led to an awkward exchange in which the pair slapped one another before the Brentford man walked off smiling to himself.
Neal Maupay has ranked the Premier League’s biggest wind-up moments as he continues to make his mark as the Premier League’s biggest villain.
Maupay first ruffled feathers when he mimicked James’ Maddison’s darts celebration after scoring against Tottenham, leading to a heated confrontation between the two players on the pitch.
Maddison criticised the forward in his post-match interview following Tottenham’s 3-2 win in the game, with the pair again clashing on social media.
Just days later, Maupay clashed with Manchester City’s Kyle Walker when he was accused of making comments about Walker’s children, and he could be seen rustling West Ham coach Kevin Nolan at the weekend.
Now, Maupay, via Sport Bible, has looked back on some of the biggest wind-up moments of all time in the league, assessing how impressive he thought they were.
Premier League villain Neal Maupay (right) has ranked the Premier League’s most iconic wind-up moments
As was Emmanuel Adebayor running the length of the pitch to celebrate scoring against former side Arsenal
Having scored against his former side, the forward ran the length of the Etihad pitch to celebrate in front of the away fans, who launched objects his way in response.
Also included in the top tier was Jamie Vardy howling after scoring for Leicester at Wolves, with Maupay describing the celebration as ‘class’ and saying ‘it speaks for itself.’
Also in ‘goated’ was former Liverpool man Luis Suarez, who, after being accused of diving by David Moyes in 2012, dived in celebration in front of the dugout after scoring in the Merseyside derby.
In ‘very good’, Maupay included a social media post from team-mate Ivan Toney, which read ‘Nice kick about with the boys’ when Brentford beat Arsenal on their first game in the Premier League back in 2021.
That was placed alongside Emmanuel Martinez celebrating in front of Manchester United fans after Bruno Fernandes’ missed penalty in 2021 and Thierry Henry offering Chris Kirkland the ball after alleged timewasting in 2007.
In good, Maupay picked Jesse Lingard dancing at the Emirates, and David Luiz’s infamous wink against Manchester United in 2013.
Finally, in ‘meh’, Maupay played Andros Townsend copying Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration at Old Trafford – saying Ronaldo ‘probably doesn’t even know’ Townsend – and Martin Keown celebrating in the face of Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2003.
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