‘Fancy seeing you again so quickly’ – Crystal Palace dressing room’s response to Jean-Philippe Mateta
Jean-Philippe Mateta may face an awkward situation with his Crystal Palace teammates following his failed January move.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes the Crystal Palace fanbase will “love” Mateta again if he scores a couple of goals between now and the end of the season.
Mateta’s £30million move to AC Milan did not go through on deadline day, meaning the 28-year-old returns to Selhurst Park for the remainder of the campaign.
Oliver Glasner was forced to leave Mateta out of the Crystal Palace squad that drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest last time out, and it remains to be seen whether the striker will be welcomed back.
Jean-Philippe Mateta ‘very popular’ at Crystal Palace
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Mateta’s situation is part of the game.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the striker can get “back to normal” by scoring goals.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Look, it makes it slightly difficult, of course it does, but you know what? He comes in, he scores two goals, the fans love him again, and he’s back to normal.
“He knows his surroundings. There’ll be a bit of banter in the dressing room, you know, fancy seeing you again so quickly and all that sort of stuff. But look, he’s okay. You know, he didn’t make, I know he did something with social media and that sort of stuff, minor stuff, but look, I think he’s very popular with what he did for Palace.
“He scored some crucial goals for them over the last couple of seasons. I don’t think people understand its football now and these things happen.”
Mateta could be replaced amid transfer saga
Crystal Palace stars have been left unhappy at Mateta for his decision not to play against Nottingham Forest.
Mateta must now prove to his teammates that he wants to be at the club, with Crystal Palace taking on their rivals Brighton next.
Jorgen Strand Larsen could make his Crystal Palace debut in place of Mateta, who has also scored just once in his last 10 Premier League appearances.