Wilfried Zaha has publicly criticised Jean-Philippe Mateta after the Crystal Palace striker claimed former teammates, including Zaha, mocked his international ambitions during his early struggles at the club. The dispute erupted on October 15, 2025, when Zaha posted a video denying Mateta’s account and calling the portrayal “disgusting,” insisting their conversation was lighthearted discussion about France’s competitive squad depth rather than ridicule.
Mateta’s interview claims players laughed at France dream during difficult period
Following his first senior France call-up at 28, Mateta spoke to L’Équipe between October 8-10, 2025, describing conversations during his early Palace years when he struggled for playing time. “I had teammates like Wilfried Zaha who were laughing,” Mateta said (via talkSPORT), claiming players told him he was “mad to think about the France team” when he could not secure minutes at Palace.
Mateta’s initial spell at Palace appeared to validate those doubts. After joining on loan from Mainz in January 2021, he managed just six goals in 18 months. Following his £9 million permanent transfer in January 2022, he endured a 28-game scoreless run. His fortunes reversed dramatically over the past two seasons, scoring 16 league goals in 2023-24 to win Palace’s Player of the Year award, then contributing 17 goals and four assists during the club’s FA Cup-winning 2024-25 campaign.
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Ten players present during conversation about French squad competition
Zaha revealed in his video response that ten Crystal Palace players participated in the original discussion, not just him. He explained they joked about the difficulty of breaking into France’s squad given competition from players like Karim Benzema at that time. “It was never a thing where I laughed at him,” Zaha said (via SPORTbible). “We were laughing, saying that there are so many players, it is going to be a difficult task.”
Zaha questioned why Mateta singled him out when multiple teammates were present, suggesting Mateta used “Zaha” because he is the “biggest name” to create a compelling comeback narrative. Zaha noted he had publicly congratulated Mateta on Instagram for his international call-up, making the accusation particularly painful. After contacting Mateta directly about the comments, Zaha said Mateta “doesn’t want to” address or correct the narrative and “he’s okay with it.”
International success continues as personal dispute clouds Palace legacy
The controversy has not slowed Mateta’s international progress. He made his senior France debut on October 11, 2025, in a 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan, then scored in his first start during a 2-2 draw with Iceland three days later.
Mateta previously represented France at the 2024 Paris Olympics as an over-age player, netting seven goals in nine games to help secure a silver medal and becoming the first Crystal Palace player to win an Olympic medal while at the club.
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Mateta has expressed interest in joining a Champions League club, with his Palace contract expiring at the end of the 2025-26 season. The public disagreement with Zaha, who departed Palace for Galatasaray in 2023, complicates his legacy at the London club where he transformed from a struggling loan player into a prolific scorer and international footballer.
Zaha’s video concluded with a revealing statement about trust in professional football: “This is why I don’t have football friends, this is why I keep to myself.”
