Neal Maupay branded 'disrespectful and naive' after Everton tweet leaves former players fuming
Don Hutchison and Peter Reid were among those who responded to the forward's jibe at the club that still, technically, owns him
Former players, pundits and supporters piled on Neal Maupay after the striker trolled Everton following the club’s defeat to Nottingham Forest. Maupay, on loan at Marseille from the Blues, took to social media to joke at the expense of Sean Dyche’s side.
He wrote on X: “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.”
It was an extraordinary comment from a player technically still owned by the Blues - though Marseille have an obligation to make the deal permanent in the summer. He has, therefore, played his final game for Everton.
Among the former players to criticise Maupay, who has made such remarks part of his persona in recent years, was Don Hutchison.
Pointing to Maupay’s struggles across his three seasons at Goodison Park - the majority of the second of which was spent on loan at Brentford - the former Blues captain wrote: “Obviously Everton are living rent free in his head.
“Take heart Everton fans knowing that every night he is thinking of how much of a failure and he couldn’t handle or cope playing for such a great club.”
Blues legend Peter Reid chimed in: “TBF [to be fair] what a player… and I smile.”
Lee Trundle, the former City Swansea striker and Everton supporter added: “You played for the club mate, have a bit of respect as an ex player. Speaking like that [you are] part of the problem.”
The post sparked a backlash among Blues supporters - many of whom were quick to point to Maupay’s nightmare on Merseyside, the 28-year-old having scored just once since his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion. Craig Dawson, the current Wolverhampton Wanderers player, has scored more own goals for the Blues during that period.
Maupay did enjoy a better time while on loan at Brentford last season and is part of a Marseille set-up that is currently second in Ligue 1 - something he pointed out as he chose to respond to some of the replies to his post.
He added: "See you in the Champions League next season." In a further dig that hinted at Everton’s proximity to the relegation zone, he added: "*Championship".
It was not Maupay’s first descent into trolling supporters online. When the terms of his move to Marseille were secured he shared an image of the jailbreak scene from movie The Shawshank Redemption.
Respected journalist Henry Winter summed up the situation best: “Disrespectful and naive. Neal Maupay is *checks notes* still technically an Everton player. On loan at Marseille who have an obligation to buy (and doubtless will as he's been playing better recently). Be interesting to hear Everton team-mates' view of Maupay (32 games, 1 goal).”