To say that the relationship between Neal Maupay (30) and Roberto De Zerbi during their time at Olympique de Marseille was tumultuous is an understatement. Once described as the “coach’s son” by the Italian, the former Brentford striker was subsequently sidelined from the first-team squad by De Zerbi, before being loaned out to Sevilla FC.

The Olympique striker reflected on this difficult period in an interview with RMC Sport. “In any case, I don’t treat my children like that,” Maupay remarked when recalling those comments. “Then again, everyone has their own way of doing things, their own parenting methods.”

“When you turn up for training and your things are left in a portable cabin at the back of the training ground, when you’re on your own doing laps of the pitch and you don’t have access to your changing room, of course it gets to you,” admits the forward. “It would be a lie to say otherwise. But I don’t want to dwell on it; I need to move on.”

Despite the pain Maupay has felt, he bears no grudge against De Zerbi, particularly because he has “got older”. “But if this had been a few years ago, I would have held a grudge against a lot of people,” he says.

Having since rejoined the OM first-team squad, Maupay has made five appearances for the Marseille side this season, having not scored a goal in a competitive match since last April.