A feud has erupted between Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and his former Eagles teammate Wilfried Zaha.
This month’s international break saw Jean-Philippe Mateta earn his first caps for France. At the same time, though, a feud has broken out between him and Wilfried Zaha over alleged comments Zaha made in the past.
Mateta said Zaha doubted he could ever play for France but Zaha hit back, saying as many as 10 of his Palace teammates at the time doubted Mateta.
Jean-Philippe Mateta during an interview with France
Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
Troy Deeney weighs in on Mateta and Zaha feud
Speaking on talkSPORT, pundit Troy Deeney has now given his verdict on the beef between Zaha and Mateta. The former Watford striker appeared to side with Mateta, suggesting Zaha has taken his comments the wrong way.
Deeney said: “Obviously the truth is what Mateta was saying that he’s had that conversation and the lads weren’t having him because probably at the time of the conversation, Wilf just alluded to there, he weren’t playing. He wasn’t in the team wasn’t doing that well and France had Mbappe, Benzema, you name it.
“He had all these people ahead of him. So they probably would have laughed it off. I think to say that publicly without any of that context around it and the timing, and that there was 10 lads there, that’s where Wilf’s took a little bit of an upset and got a bit angry, probably taken it the wrong way… But again, it’s a little bit of nothing, it’s international, there’s not a great deal to talk about.”
Journalist shares insight amid Zaha and Mateta clash
Posting on X, French journalist Loic Tanzi who conducted the recent interview with Mateta where he revealed Zaha’s doubts over his France hopes, claimed Mateta meant nothing personal by it.
Tanzi posted on X: “Having done the interview, Jean-Philippe Mateta wasn’t saying that meanly about Zaha, but rather in the spirit (of) ‘I believed in it when no one else did’. No controversy to be had.”
Like Deeney says, there’s not been a lot for fans to talk about and so this controversy between Mateta and Zaha has taken centre stage, when it’s really nothing important.
The important stuff lies on the pitch right now with Oliver Glasner’s Palace flying high in 6th place of the Premier League table.