Ben Mee has revealed Neal Maupay’s wind-up antics against Tottenham last season didn’t go down well with the Brentford squad.
The Frenchman left Spurs’ stars rattled in January 2024 when he celebrated scoring the Bees’ opening goal against them by copying James Maddison’s trademark dart-throwing celebration.
Maupay gained a repute as one in every of the Premier League’s chief wind-up merchants during his five years within the English top-flight.
Having carved out a pantomime villain persona together with his on-field antics at Brighton and Everton, the striker kept this up when he rejoined Brentford on loan for the 2023/24 season.
From appearing to clash with Kyle Walker over recent reports surrounding his family life, to poking fun at Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez on social media after a derby win, Maupay’s second spell in west London was definitely eventful.
And it was arguably his celebrated-fuelled spat with Maddison which provided probably the most in entertainment value, with the pair exchanging words on the pitch the feud escalated in a while social media.
After the match, which the Bees lost 3-2, Maupay wrote online: “More goals and fewer relegations in my profession than James Maddison.”
Despite keeping fans entertained nevertheless, Brentford defender Mee has revealed his antics managed to upset a few of his teammates.
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, the previous Burnley star recalled: “The Spurs game I believe it was, he was tweeting after the sport, or whatever he was doing on the coach.
“And the boys didn’t prefer it because we got beat, and he was attempting to have fun online or whatever.
“Nevertheless it was form of [like]: ‘Just calm it down just a little bit. Do it at a unique moment’.”
Though Maupay may not have left the Bees squad best pleased on this occasion, Mee revealed he had been pleasantly surprised by French forward upon becoming teammates last season.
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Having spent years as direct opponents whilst a mainstay in Sean Dyche’s Burnley sides, the 35-year-old admitted he had been unable to face Maupay’s relentless wind-up tactics over time.
Mee said: “Do you recognize what? He was in my black book. I didn’t like him in any respect. He was a wind up on the pitch playing against him.
“He was one in every of those players that I didn’t like in any respect. So I’d like to get stuck into him.
“So when he got here to Brentford I used to be wondering what he’d be like off the pitch. But truthfully he’s a top lad. He’s a extremely good guy. Nice guy. And he just loves a wind up.
He added: “We had just a little bit in training sometimes, me and him. But that is just competitive nature.”
“But yeah he enjoys a wind up. And he definitely plays on it now. He just plays on it. And yeah he’s a personality.”
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Despite growing keen on Maupay during their time as teammates, Mee didn’t hesitate when admitting he would have loved to dish out some strong challenges on him as an opponent.
After talkSPORT host Gabby Agbonlahor suggested the 28-year-old would have been subjected to much rougher treatment from defenders in a past era, the centre-back agreed.
Mee said: “Yeah I can definitely see that, having played against him, yeah.
“I probably would have been one in every of those guys. Leave one on him early doors.
“But like I say, after I got to know him, I got on with him very well. And he’s actually a top guy.”
