Crystal Palace legend Wilfried Zaha has launched a seething rant at former teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Zaha was recently called out by Mateta for laughing at the striker’s dreams of playing for France one day.
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The Frenchman was recently handed his debut for Les Bleus in a 3-0 win over Azerbaijan on Friday, before scoring in a 2-2 draw with Iceland on Monday.
What did Mateta say?
He 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.”
Zaha, who spent two-and-a-half years playing alongside Mateta at Selhurst Park before joining Galatasaray in 2023, was left raging by the comments.
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He took to social media on Wednesday and said: “My head’s on fire. I have to clear up this Mateta situation. Because he doesn’t want to. I spoke to him and he doesn’t want to, he’s okay with it.
“This just shows me, all the time I played for Crystal Palace, people watching me, it’s clear that 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.”
Zaha added: “Did you dislike me the whole time? For you to come out with this, your come up story, I’m going to use Zaha as my come up story.
“It’s nasty, man. It is nasty. This is why I don’t have football friends.
“This is why I keep myself to myself because how’s he gonna do that?”
Sympathy for Zaha
Reacting to the conflict, talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara and Gabby Agbonlahor had some sympathy for Zaha while discussing the nature of training ground banter.
“I understand what he’s [Zaha] saying. It was probably said when he was there and they were having a bit of banter about it,” said O’Hara.
“Of course the players want him to play for his national team and Mateta has visualised it in his head. But as a player, you have be able to take a bit of banter.
Agbonlahor replied: “I’d be upset as well because you know what changing rooms are like Jamie.
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“You’ve got to understand Mateta wasn’t even scoring in the Premier League so if he’s mentioning France, they are probably laughing thinking you’ve got [Kylian] Mbappe and so many superstars there, what’s he talking about?
“I can imagine, like he says, nine or ten players talking about it.
“Mateta could have said ‘players were laughing at me and didn’t think I could get there, look at me now’. He didn’t have to name names.
“I can see where Zaha’s coming from. Even if he did say that to him he’s only having a bit of banter.
“It’s not that you’re hating on him but at that time he would have been a million miles away from it.
“Since then, he ‘s improved every season and deserves his call-up.
“But in training maybe he wasn’t holding the ball up, he’s missing chances. In games, he’s not scoring.
“They are probably like ‘yeah good one mate. France are probably the best team in the world. Yeah, I’m going to play for Brazil!’. You have that sort of banter.”
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How is Zaha faring in MLS?
Zaha, who enjoyed two spells with the Eagles, now plies his trade in the MLS with Charlotte FC who are managed by former Aston Villa and Leicester boss Dean Smith.
The winger finished his first season in the United States with nine goals in 30 appearances to hep Charlotte clinch their place in the upcoming MLS playoffs.
However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing for the 32-year-old after coming under fire for his performance in a 1-0 defeat to New England Revolution in April.
Zaha became Charlotte’s most recognisable signing when he agreed a loan switch from Galatasaray in January.
That put the Ivorian firmly in the firing line and much like his reaction to Mateta, Zaha took to social media to bite back at the criticism over his display.
“Typical. We lost a game and somehow it’s Zaha’s fault,” he posted on Snapchat. “I dribble ..I’m selfish. I keep it simple.. I’m not doing what I’m being paid to do. I shoot.. I should [have] passed. I pass.. I should finish my chances.”
“I usually wouldn’t reply to this stupid but I’m not a scapegoat for people to waffle about in at clubs anymore. Zaha this, Zaha that, but we had the best start ever and been 1st in the league, so please stop chapping, especially my name.”