Jean-Philippe Mateta reveals private Wilfried Zaha talks after 'nasty' spat

Jean-Philippe Mateta has broken his silence after Wilfried Zaha hit back on social media at comments that the Crystal Palace star made during an interview following his first France call-up

Jean-Philippe Mateta insists that "everything is good" with Wilfried Zaha after the Crystal Palace star held peace talks with his former team-mate.

Zaha, who left Selhurst Park in 2023, took to social media last week, accusing Mateta of a "nasty" and "disgusting" interview in which he suggested that the ex-Palace star mocked his chances of ever playing for France. But Mateta, who was the Eagles' hat-trick hero on Saturday during their 3-3 draw with Bournemouth, has poured cold water on the fiery spat.

"I spoke with him," the Frenchman told a press conference ahead of Thursday's Conference League clash with AEK Larnaca. "Everything is good with him. We talk in private and that is it."

When pressed on whether Zaha had apologised to him, Palace's press officer intervened and said that Mateta didn't want to answer any more questions on the dispute. The 28-year-old made his first senior start for France last week, marking it with a goal during their 2-2 draw in Iceland.

But it was in an interview with L'Equipe that Mateta caught Zaha's attention, saying: "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 now plays for Major League Soccer side Charlotte, filmed a response and posted it on Instagram. "My head's on fire. I have to clear up this Mateta situation because he doesn't want to," the winger began.

"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.

"The conversation that was had was his chances of playing for France way back when he wasn't playing for Palace and there were 10 players that he had this conversation with. And as friends we laughed it off, but we were joking around. That it's going to be difficult, especially with [Karim] Benzema, all these different players playing in those positions.

"But we never ever once said you're never going to make it. Wouldn't you be shocked if this person has made out that there's some sort of hate from me? Why would he say my name? When there was 10 people there. Is it because Zaha is the biggest name?

"I do not understand, it's disgusting. I've never hated on anyone. So now I'm getting messages, 'Oh you're not laughing now about Mateta.' I couldn't care less, well done to him.

"I even congratulated him publicly on his Instagram. So to hear that story come out, it's like what the f***? 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 going to do that?"