THE Premier League’s greatest wind-up merchant has seen his transfer turn sour.
And now Neal Maupay has been banished from training and first-team meetings.
Maupay, 29, caused a stir with his cheeky antics in England with Brentford, Brighton and Everton, where he fell out of favour.
But after spending last season on loan at Marseille, scoring four times in 24 appearances, the Frenchman joined the club permanently in the summer in a deal worth up to £10million.
It is understood Roberto De Zerbi’s side triggered the release clause with the intention of selling him straight on again – and did not see him as a suitable option up front.
But when no one came in, Maupay was stuck – especially with Timothy Weah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Igor Paixao all signing.
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And two months into the campaign, it has gone horribly wrong for the striker.
He has featured on the bench just once – on August 23 – and has not played a single minute of football for the Ligue 1 outfit.
Now L’Equipe via Get French Football News have reported on how bleak the situation really is for Maupay.
The publication states Maupay is only permitted to join in the warm-ups with his fellow first-team stars.
He then leaves the session.
And while the rest of the squad go through their various drills, the forward just does passes with an assistant manager and runs laps of the pitch.
It is also understood Maupay is not invited to team meetings any more.
The striker will surely be moved on in January.
But he may not be the only Marseille forward leaving.
SunSport revealed Mason Greenwood was watched by Barcelona scouts as he scored four in a thumping 6-2 win and could be reunited with Marcus Rashford in Spain.
A source said: “Barca could end up with two of Europe’s hottest strikers for a bargain price.”
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