Neal Maupay has spoken out about why he thinks his transfer to Everton didn’t work

10:43, 10 Apr 2025Updated 10:53, 10 Apr 2025

Neal Maupay has blamed Everton’s tactics for his nightmare spell at Goodison Park. Although the 28-year-old is still officially an Everton player, he is on loan at Olympique Marseille until the end of the season with an obligation to buy for a £6m fee that will potentially rise to £10m.

Maupay has long since burned his bridges with the Blues though, having aimed a number of digs at the club on social media in recent months. In December, after his parent club lost 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest, he tweeted “whenever I’m having a bad day, I just check the Everton score and smile.”

The Versailles-born striker has hardly set the world alight in the south of France though, netting just four times in 21 matches, but it’s still a better return than his torrid time on Merseyside, where after Kevin Thelwell brought him in for £15m, he registered just once in 32 outings.

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Asked by GIVEMESPORT what went wrong at Everton, Maupay conceded: “I think pretty much everything, to be honest with you.

“The club wasn’t in the right place in terms of the manager because we changed the manager that season. I think the way we were playing didn’t fit my game.

“If you try to play long-ball football and put crosses into a player like me, that doesn’t match my characteristics, so it won’t work.

“I think sometimes it just doesn’t work out. You never know before you join a club or a manager, but it’s part of football.”

Goodbye Goodison Park – Souvenir edition

Everton are soon set to say goodbye to Goodison Park as the Toffees play out their final few matches in their iconic home before moving to their incredible new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

And to celebrate this historic and poignant event, the ECHO has produced this stunning special souvenir edition that no fan can afford to be without as they bid farewell to their iconic and beloved home.

We have delved into the ECHO archives to unearth fascinating stories from the famous ground’s past, including how it came to be built in 1892 and where its world-famous name came from.

Relive some of the most epic games to have graced the Grand Old Lady, including first-hand accounts of those involved in perhaps Goodison’s greatest night – the European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final win over Bayern Munich in the unforgettable year of 1985.

And then there are the legends – from Dean to Hickson, Sharp to Ferguson, Kendall to Moyes, we celebrate the Goodison icons who will live forever in the hearts and minds of Evertonians everywhere long after the ground is gone.

There are also some rare treats with a glorious collection of photographs from the archives, featuring stunning Goodison views and behind-the-scenes footage of what makes the Grand Old Lady truly trick.

Buy now and have it delivered directly to your door. Alternatively you can purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents on Merseyside from April 2, 2025.

In contrast, to the ill-feelings he has proclaimed against Everton, Maupay expressed warmth for the other English teams he has played for, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.

He described Brentford’s Thomas Frank as a “top manager” who is “absolutely amazing,” while the Seagulls’ Fabian Hurzeler is dubbed: “a young, exciting manager” with the Frenchman adding: “I wouldn’t be surprised if they make it into the Champions League. I’d be happy for them because I still have a lot of friends at Brighton.”