UPDATED NEWS: A star player ended his dismal spell at Everton by rejoining Brentford.
After rejoining Brentford on loan, Neal Maupay described his comeback as a “homecoming.”
The 27-year-old striker joined Brentford on a season-long loan with the chance to make the move permanent after a disappointing time at Everton.
Maupay had only scored one goal in 32 appearances for Everton since signing in a £15 million deal last summer.
However, he scored 27 times for Brighton and Thomas Frank will hope to help him rediscover his best form.
‘It feels like I never left,’ said Maupay. ‘I’ve always followed the club and been in touch with the manager [Thomas Frank], Kev [O’Connor], Peter [Gilham] and some of the players. It feels like home; it feels good to be here.
The memories feel like yesterday. When I see the goals, I remember the atmosphere at Griffin Park. Brentford gave me my chance to play football in England. At the time I was just a young player, a kid, and now I’ve come back as a man.’
During his initial stint at Brentford between 2017 and 2019, when the club were in the Championship, he scored 41 goals in 95 games.
And the Frenchman believes that his experiences over the past four seasons have made him a better player.
‘I’m coming back with a different mindset,’ he continued. ‘I feel like I’ve improved a lot – physically, tactically and in my understanding of the game.
‘I’m still hungry. I’ve just turned 27 and I feel like I’m not even in the prime of my career.
‘Being here, with this shirt on, gives me a boost. I just can’t wait to get started and do my thing.’
