Mathys Tel’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur on loan from Bayern Munich in February 2025 brought with it a fresh wave of optimism for the club.
The young French forward has shown glimpses of his talent in his initial 7 appearances, even netting a goal in the FA Cup against Aston Villa.
His recent international break with the French U21 side further fueled excitement, as he bagged 2 goals against Slovakia, demonstrating his potential on the big stage.
However, it was an off-field incident that briefly overshadowed his on-pitch contributions this week, highlighting the fierce rivalries that define London football.
Tel took to Instagram to share a photo of himself sporting the 24/25 Fulham home kit, specifically that of Willian, the former Arsenal and Chelsea winger.
The image, a back shot clearly displaying Willian’s name and number 22, understandably didn’t sit well with the Spurs faithful.
For Tottenham fans, the names of Arsenal and Chelsea evoke a strong sense of rivalry.
Willian, who enjoyed a successful seven-year stint at Chelsea (2013-2020) before a less memorable spell at Arsenal (2020-2021), is firmly etched in the history of both clubs – teams considered staunch rivals of Spurs.
What makes it worse for Spurs fans is the brutal way Chelsea hijacked Willian’s transfer after he even completed his Tottenham medical back in 2013.
Comments poured in, questioning the young player’s choice of attire.
It’s likely that the jersey was obtained innocently, perhaps exchanged with Willian after Tottenham’s recent 2-0 defeat to Fulham on March 16th, 2025, a game in which Tel had also approached disgruntled Spurs fans post-match to encourage unity.
Mathys Tel: “We need to be together.” pic.twitter.com/MBTSspv5eR
— Spurs Army (@SpursArmyTweets) March 16, 2025
Tel quickly took down the Instagram post.
Responding to a fan comment, he offered a lighthearted apology, stating, “haha sorry my bad guys i didn’t know.”
This swift reaction and apology suggest a level of awareness from the 19-year-old regarding the delicate nature of club rivalries in London.
