Neal Maupay reveals his true feelings about James Maddison after escalating their feud by brutally mocking the Tottenham star following his axeing from England's Euro 2024 squad

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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 claimed he has no problem with James Maddison and just enjoys having a laugh

Maupay brutally mocked Maddison after he was axed by England by posting a photo of him holding darts onto his social media

He added: 'I'm just having a bit of banter and a bit of a laugh, there's nothing deep. I like to give something, but I can receive as well.

'It's just fun. I like a bit of banter with my mates. That's just how it is, just because I'm a professional footballer doesn't mean I can't do it.' 

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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.

'I just said to him he probably hasn't scored enough goals of his own in the last few years to have his own celebration so he had to copy mine,' Maddison told TNT Sports afterwards.

Tottenham star Maddison celebrates goals by playing 'shadow darts', which Maupay mocked

Maupay started a feud with Maddison in January when he copied his celebration after scoring against Spurs 

After Spurs won the match 3-2, Maupay was forced to eat humble pie but instead put out a spiky Instagram post.

It read: 'Went a bit early with that one. Gutted we couldn't get the win. More goals and less relegations in my career than James Maddison.'

In February he clashed with Manchester City's Kyle Walker after the England full-back split from his wife Annie Kilner, having fathered a second child with Lauryn Goodman.

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Meanwhile, he is despised by Arsenal fans after injuring goalkeeper Bernd Leno and then clashing with Matteo Guendouzi while playing for Brighton in June 2020.

Leno's yelp of pain echoed around an empty Amex Stadium - with fans locked out due to the Covid-19 pandemic - after Maupay caused the Arsenal keeper to fall awkwardly after jumping into him.

The knee ligament damage suffered ruled the German out for Arsenal's final 11 games that season and - infuriated - he jabbed his finger in Maupay's direction as he was carried off on a stretcher.

At the final whistle, after Maupay scored Brighton's winner in stoppage time, all social distancing went out the window as Guendouzi grabbed him by the throat.

'Some of the Arsenal players need to learn humility maybe sometimes. They've been talking a lot first-half, second-half when they were 1-0 up - they got what they deserved,' Maupay said.

The forward was involved in a heated exchange with a riled-up Kyle Walker as Brentford played Manchester City in February 

In September 2021, Maupay courted controversy again after he copied Wilfried Zaha's celebration by cupping his hands to his ears after scoring a last-minute equaliser for Brighton against bitter rivals Crystal Palace.

Zaha was irked by Maupay's action and players from both sides clashed after the 1-1 draw.

'Football is nothing without fans and some involvement with players,' Maupay said afterwards.