Everton have issued a blunt farewell message to Neal Maupay following his deadline day move to Marseille. The 28-year-old likened his Goodison Park exit to a prison escape on social media earlier this week, prompting an angry reaction from Toffees fans.
Maupay was shipped off to Brentford on loan last season due to manager Sean Dyche favouring other options up top. His brief return to Merseyside was not a happy one, as the Frenchman was filmed in an angry confrontation with Everton supporters after their 4-0 battering at Tottenham last weekend.
That turned out to be his last trip as a Toffees player, as he has now joined French side Marseille on a season-long loan which will be made permanent for around £3.4million next summer.
When news broke earlier this week that the two clubs had reached an agreement, Maupay reacted by posting a video clip of the film 'The Shawshank Redemption' in which the main character celebrates successfully escaping prison.
It is therefore no surprise to see that Everton's brief statement confirming Maupay's departure did not include a thank you, and it even referenced his poor goals return.
Everton's Statement
"Maupay moves to the Ligue 1 side after spending the 2023/24 campaign on loan with one of his former clubs Brentford. The 28-year-old Frenchman joined Everton in August 2022, making 32 appearances for the Blues and scoring one goal."
Maupay's Journey Through English Football
Maupay made his first foray into English football with Brentford in 2017, and his two prolific seasons in the Championship convinced Brighton to bring him to the Premier League. The frontman bagged 27 goals in 109 games for the Seagulls before signing for Everton in 2022.
Maupay's Goalscoring Record
After joining in 2022, Maupay scored just one goal in 29 appearances during his first campaign at Goodison Park. Last season, he re-joined Brentford on loan and netted eight times in 31 games.
A Look at Maupay's Recent Behavior
He becomes the latest Premier League player to move to Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille following Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. But he is better-known for winding up fellow pros than his performances on the pitch.
Maupay's Provocative Tendencies
In January, he clashed with Tottenham’s James Maddison after trolling the playmaker’s darts celebration. The following month he was involved in a heated feud with Kyle Walker. And in July, Maupay trolled the England team just moments after their heartbreaking Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
A New Chapter for Maupay
Maupay's move to Marseille signifies a new chapter in his career. Whether he can find success in Ligue 1 remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: his time at Everton will be remembered for his on-field struggles and off-field antics.
The End of the Road
Maupay's departure from Everton marks the end of an era for the striker. His time at Goodison Park was filled with frustration and disappointment, but he has now moved on to a new challenge. Marseille will be hoping that Maupay can rediscover his scoring touch in Ligue 1. However, it seems unlikely that he will be welcomed back to Goodison Park anytime soon.
