A growing discomfort? So from Marseille is preparing to face Ajax Amsterdam this Tuesday evening on behalf of the second day of the Champions League, Roberto de Zerbi preferred to do without one of his attackers.
In reality, this trend has been continuing for several months. Holder upon arrival in the Canebière in the summer of 2024, this former Premier League resident was then downgraded by the Italian tactician. With no minute of disputed this season, he is even the sixth and last in the hierarchy of the attackers, behind Aubameyang, Greenwood, Gouiri, Paixao, and Robinio Vaz.
This is Neal Maupay. The Frenchman seems to no longer be one of the plans of the former coach of Brighton. For good reason, the attacker no longer plays at all. To see Maupay wear the OM jersey in a Ligue 1 match, you have to go back to May 17. An eight-minute appearance in the Marseille victory against Rennes (4-2) occurring after five games spent on the bench.
Neal Maupay, a profile that disappoints?
With 24 games played, including 15 tenure, during the 2024/2025 season, the attacker was not as decisive and involved as expected. Its yield is only four goals as well as four assists. For comparison, when Neal Maupay was in Brentford the previous season, he marked double goals and delivered three assists for 31 games played. If he was never a goal scoring machine, his profile had been much appreciated by Roberto de Zerbi.
During a press conference last January, the coach even praised his player. “Maupay is the perfect player, everyone would like him in his team. He does not have 20 goals per season in his feet. But between goals, passes, his commitment to actions, his character and his leadership, he is a player I would always like to have. »» Declarations in total opposition with reality, which question the real reasons behind this brutal downgrading.
