James Maddison made a bold statement on the pitch and in his celebration after netting Tottenham’s opening goal against Manchester United in their Premier League clash.
Spurs took the lead in Sunday’s match when Maddison capitalized on a rebound from Lucas Bergvall’s shot, slotting the ball past Andre Onana. While the goal electrified the home crowd, it was his post-goal antics that stole the spotlight.
Known for his love of darts, Maddison typically celebrates by miming a dart throw. But this time, he added a twist staring directly into a TV camera, mimicking a mouth with his hand, launching his imaginary dart, and finishing with a shushing gesture.
The message was clear a pointed response to Manchester United legend Roy Keane, who had taken a dig at Maddison earlier in the week. Speaking on The Overlap, Keane dismissed Maddison’s influence at Spurs, referencing his time at non-league Tamworth and questioning his ability to lead a top club.
“People say Maddison’s the man. When is he going to step up? He got relegated with Leicester, and he’ll get relegated with Spurs,” Keane remarked, also mocking his passion for darts.
Maddison’s goal his 10th of the Premier League season may have been the perfect answer to his critics.
The 28-year-old has faced backlash before, notably in December when he and teammate Brennan Johnson attended the World Darts Championship just hours after Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Wolves. Some fans were unimpressed, calling his actions “unacceptable,” to which Maddison cheekily replied, “Shut up u wally,” alongside a laughing emoji.
With his latest performance, Maddison seems to be letting his football do the talking while making sure his celebrations deliver a message of their own.