Mateta finally set for Fiorentina opportunity 3 months after Milan transfer failed
Thursday’s reports suggest that Crystal Palace will hand a starting opportunity to striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta in this evening’s Conference League quarter-final first leg against Fiorentina, just over three months after the Frenchman’s January transfer to Milan fell through.
What happened with Milan and Mateta?
Multiple outlets, including Sky Sport Italia and La Gazzetta dello Sport, claim that Mateta will lead the line for Palace when they host Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter-final first leg at Selhurst Park on Thursday night.
Mateta has not started for Palace in any competition since their 3-1 defeat against Chelsea in the Premier League on January 25.
Mateta had been on the verge of joining Milan in the final days of the January transfer window. The clubs had shaken hands over a transfer fee in excess of €30m and Palace decided to bring in a replacement in the form of Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The Mateta transfer stalled, however, over concerns surrounding an underlying knee issue. Reports in Italy claimed that three different experts warned Milan against the signing due to the knee issue, and Palace head coach Oliver Glasner later admitted that it ‘wasn’t a big surprise’ to see the transfer fall through.
There had been concerns in the UK that Mateta would need surgery to fix the damage in his knee. Glasner later revealed that there was an option for Mateta to go through a rehabilitation process, which might be better for his chances of featuring for France at the 2026 World Cup.
“There are two ways we can do it: Either manage it, like we did. We can manage the knee until after the World Cup, because this is especially what JP is considering, his dream, playing for France at the World Cup. Or, the other one is that he undergoes the surgery,” Glasner explained in February.
In the end, Mateta decided against having surgery, which has facilitated a return to action three months on from his failed Milan transfer. Tonight’s Conference League clash against Fiorentina is expected to be his first start since then.