West Ham striker Michail Antonio has warned Everton loanee Neal Maupay that he might be “beaten up” if he maintains his on-field antics.
The Hammers striker was chatting on his ‘Footballers’ Football Podcast’ (9 February) with Fulham captain Tom Cairney when he rated Brentford’s current loan striker as the Premier League’s most despised player.
Following previous events on the pitch with James Maddison and Kyle Walker, Antonio joked that if he continues to stir people up, he might get beaten up in the tunnel.
“Maupay is known to be a bit of a wind-up,” he said. “I know someone who knows him and he’s meant to be a nice guy off the pitch but he does it on purpose. I feel he goes on the pitch to rub people up the wrong way and he’s known for it now.
“He is probably the most disliked person on the field. One of these days he is going to get beaten up! Back in the day things used to happen in the tunnel, but it’s 2024 now and you probably wouldn’t get away with it.”
“I’m not going to lie, I rate it! I rate it for him. It’s not something I would do but it’s part of his character, the fact he can just put it on in a game and 90% of the time he knows what he is doing, so it’s a skill that he has.
“But there is going to be a day where someone is not going to have it and at half-time and at the end of the game he’s going to be in trouble. He better start practising kickboxing!
Thank God Everton got rid of Neal Maupay
Maupay has been a success since returning back to Brentford with seven goals scored so far this season, but there is no doubt that Everton got a good deal here regardless.
Maupay was an absolute flop for the Toffees after joining in a £12m deal from Brighton, scoring just one goal, and the team did well to move him on after signing Beto and Youssef Chermiti in the summer.
Considering all the problems that Everton and Sean Dyche have had this season with officiating, charges from the FA and results on the pitch the last thing that they need is to have another liability on the pitch.
There is already talk that the club are due to earn an extra financial windfall due to bonuses in the deal that took him to west London linked with appearances, and hopefully his form will also convince them to turn the deal permanent.
It may be fun to watch as a neutral when he has these meltdowns, but ultimately if he is part of your team he’s more of a hindrance than a help and you won’t find an Everton fan wishing he was back in blue any time soon.
