Former Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha made a request to team bosses after struggling to cope with a teammate's night-time behaviour
Zaha couldn't stand his teammate's 'crazy' night-time habit
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Wilfried Zaha once asked to switch rooms because his teammate Nicolas Pepe's snoring was so bad.
The ex-Arsenal winger and former Crystal Palace star used to share a hotel room during international duty with the Ivory Coast. However, Zaha grew frustrated with the ex-£72million Gunner's nocturnal behaviour.
Zaha, now plying his trade at MLS side Charlotte FC, likened the Villarreal striker's snoring to the sound of a motorcycle. He managed to avoid Pepe and subsequently became Salomon Kalou's room-mate.
Surprisingly, Kalou was already well acquainted with Pepe's dreadful sleeping habits. Speaking on the OnTheJudy podcast, Zaha said: "Oh my days, Nicolas Pepe. Nicolas Pepe, I asked to leave the room. I went and asked to leave the room because he sounded like a motorbike.
"It was mad. Bro, it was crazy. I was like no, I can't. They let me move and share rooms with Kalou, Salomon Kalou. And he was like, 'Bro, I know. I moved myself.'"
Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace and Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal FC during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.
Pepe's snoring kept Zaha up at night(Image: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Zaha's two previous clubs, Manchester United and Palace, face each other in Premier League action on Sunday at Selhurst Park. The south London outfit are currently soaring in fifth position in the table, whilst United sit in 10th, but are only two points behind.
The winger's former teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta is expected to spearhead Palace's attack, and the pair had a public disagreement last month, when Mateta was called up to the France squad. Their dispute arose after the striker suggested Zaha was among ex-teammates who had previously questioned his ability to represent France at international level.
Mateta told L'Equipe: "At Crystal Palace, right at the start, when I wasn't even playing, I spoke about the France team in the dressing room and I had team-mates like Wilfried Zaha who were laughing.
"They said that I was mad to think about the France team when I wasn't even playing at Crystal Palace, but I responded saying that it was my objective and that I simply had to play to show what I could do."
Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace celebrates with Wilfried Zaha after scoring goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on August 20, 2022 in London, United Kingdom.
Zaha also recently fell out with ex-teammate Mateta
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Zaha, who is currently on loan from Galatasaray, firmly rejected these allegations and responded in a video shared on social media. He said: "I'm sorry but my head's on fire.
"I've got to clear up this Mateta situation because he doesn't want to and this just shows me that... see the times when I was playing at Crystal Palace and all these people were watching me and it's clear they weren't happy for me because I never made anyone feel like s***.
"I never... everyone knows me. The only time on the pitch is when I'm passionate and all that stuff. But I'd never bully someone or say someone won't make it here or won't make it at all or nothing like that. It's disgusting when I see someone that I thought was a friend do that."
Mateta confirmed the duo had resolved their differences before Palace played AEK Larnaca in the Conference League in October. He said: "I spoke with him. Everything is good. We talked in private, and that's it."