What Premier League stars really think of Neal Maupay after Kyle Walker and James Maddison clashes

Brentford striker and wind-up merchant Neal Maupay is among the “most disliked” players on the pitch, a Premier League footballer has claimed.

Maupay has made headlines in recent weeks after being engaged in heated confrontations with both Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison and Manchester City’s Kyle Walker in successive games.

The striker, who has netted five times in his last five appearances, mocked Maddison by sarcastically copying the England international’s goal celebration. After the game, he then shared an Instagram post noting that he had more goals and fewer relegations in his career than the midfielder.

In the following game, Maupay was engaged in a heated argument with Walker, with it having been widely alleged that the Brentford forward mockingly remarked on the City winger’s tumultuous private life.

Speaking on Maupay and his antics, West Ham forward Michail Antonio admitted that the 27-year-old is among the most “disliked” players on the pitch, but stressed that in private he is a “nice guy”.

Speaking on the Footballer's Football Podcast, Antonio said: "Maupay is known to be a bit of a wind-up! I know someone who knows him and he's meant to be a nice guy off the pitch but he does it on purpose.

“On the field, [Maupay] is probably the most disliked person. He goes on the pitch to rub people up the wrong way and he’s known for it now.

“There’s going to be a day when someone is not having it and at half time or the end of the game it’s going to be a problem.”

Maupay and Walker were engaged in a heated feud (Getty)

He added: “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."

Meanwhile, Fulham's Tom Cairney noted that Maupay’s antics were an “art” form.

Cairney added: “It’s an art. It’s a skill because before the game the manager would be like, ‘Don’t let him annoy you, don’t get silly yellow cards.’

“But yeah, he’s unbelievable and like you said, Kyle Walker was close to losing his head a little bit the other night.”