Jean-Philippe Mateta was light years away from playing for France while he and Wilfried Zaha were together at Crystal Palace.
The Frenchman only scored 11 goals in 80 Premier League appearances before Oliver Glasner arrived, and was often on the bench behind his fellow countryman Odsonne Edouard at Crystal Palace.
However, Jean-Philippe Mateta is now getting the chance to train alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe after a stunning run of 34 goals in 71 appearances under Glasner, receiving a message from Wilfried Zaha following his achievement.
Wilfried Zaha seems pleased for Jean-Philippe Mateta after Didier Deschamps recognition
In the modern era of football, players often communicate on Instagram – albeit in the form of emojis rather than actual words.
Nevertheless, Zaha reached out to Mateta after the Crystal Palace No.14 posted about his inclusion in the France squad, sending his old teammate two heart-eye emojis (😍).
Chris Richards also replied, calling the man born in Sevran “Ronaldinho” as he did the Brazilian legend’s iconic hand gesture upon arriving at Clairefontaine – while Eddie Nketiah commented “boom” after seeing the news.
Edouard, Daniel Munoz, Jeffrey Schlupp, Trevoh Chalobah, Tyrick Mitchell and David Ozoh – who is impressing on loan at Derby – also congratulated Mateta.
Mateta says Zaha doubted him
Speaking to L’Equipe, Mateta revealed that Zaha – who almost returned to Crystal Palace – actually laughed off his chances of ever featuring for France.
The 28-year-old admitted: “I always believed. 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 teammates 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.”
Some fans online have criticised Zaha for laughing at Mateta, but you can hardly blame the Ivory Coast international if we’re being realistic.
As aforesaid, the Chateauroux academy graduate could not even dislodge Edouard from the starting XI during the days when Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson were at the helm.
Nevertheless, it is testament to Mateta that he never gave up, and has now realised his dream after a quite sensational rise under Glasner.
