Neal Maupay has aimed a cheeky swipe at Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez by saying he ‘should be grateful’ to the Brentford striker helping launch his career.

The pair were involved in a furious melee during Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Martinez riling home fans with his theatrics following two clashes with Maupay.

Martinez threw himself to the ground after being barged by the striker, before then shoving the former Brighton and Everton forward to the ground in retaliation just moments later.

Brentford then hilariously trolled Martinez, wishing him well in his ‘recovery from injury’.

Neal Maupay has aimed a cheeky swipe at Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez

Martinez got his chance after Bernd Leno was injured in a collision with Maupay in  2020

The goalkeeper excelled at Arsenal before joining Aston Villa and becoming No 1 for Argentina

And Maypay following up with a humorous dig by saying he had helped launch Martinez’s career after Bernd Leno was injured in a collision with the then Brighton striker three years ago. 

Martinez had been a backup player for Arsenal for a decade, and he had never played for his country. 

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But the injury gave him a chance and he went on to excel in Leno’s absence before joining Aston Villa for £20million,

He then became the No 1 for Argentina, winning the Copa America before lifting the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. 

Maupay told SPORTbible: ‘I got so many messages saying ‘you basically won the World Cup’.

‘Obviously, because Leno got injured in contact with me and then (Martinez) got to play and then play for Argentina blah blah.

The pair were involved in a furious melee during Sunday’s Premier League encounter 

The Villa goalkeeper threw himself to the ground after being barged by the Brentford striker 

‘He should be grateful shouldn’t he.’ 

‘It was so unfortunate that Leno got injured. I’m on very good terms with him now he’s at Fulham. I never tried to hurt him.’