Jean-Philippe Mateta: What’s next for Crystal Palace star after late transfer collapsed?
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future at Crystal Palace remains up in the air after his deadline day move to AC Milan fell through as a result of his knee injury.
Mateta was widely expected to leave Palace after informing the club of his desire to move on, but is now stuck at Selhurst Park after failing to agree a deal before the deadline.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that the 28-year-old now has to get his head down and continue to work hard under Oliver Glasner.
With the Eagles chasing a record Premier League points tally and Conference League success, there is still a feeling the France international can play a part.
However, the signing of Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves means Mateta will likely have to sit out of the starting XI until he proves he is committed to Palace.
Jean-Philippe Mateta could return to Crystal Palace’s XI
Brown told Football Insider on 29 January that Mateta was set to leave Palace has he “doesn’t want to be there”, leading to potential issues after that deal fell through.
However, a return to Glasner’s starting XI has not been ruled out despite suggestions he could undergo surgery on his knee injury which scuppered his exit.
“I don’t like how Mateta has handled the whole situation,” Brown told Football Insider.
“Deciding he wasn’t ready to play against Forest because he was pushing for the move away, it just leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
“With Strand Larsen, I think he goes in as the first-choice striker now.
“Whether they want to play both of them up top at any stage, that’s a decision for the manager to make, but with the way they play at the moment it’s one or the other.
“Mateta can have no complaints about that, he made it clear he doesn’t want to be a Crystal Palace player, but at the end of the day, he is.
“He has to prove he can still perform for this team and that means getting his head down, working hard, and showing he’s still going to give his best.
“I expect he’ll still be part of the squad because you can’t ignore what he has done for Palace in the last couple of years, but he can forget about a place in the starting XI.
“They want to be the best team they can be in the Premier League and in Europe as well, Mateta could still play a part in that, but he has to prove he wants to be.”
Mateta may miss the rest of the season at Selhurst Park
Milan moved ahead of the likes of Nottingham Forest, Tottenham and Juventus for Mateta’s signature, but the deal eventually fell through after a late twist.
It has since come to light that Mateta may have to undergo surgery on a knee injury which he has been carrying and playing through since November.
After returning to Palace, who moved quickly to replace him with the addition of Strand Larsen, he should now be allowed to finally undergo surgery.
Reports claim Mateta could be ruled out for three or four months should he have the procedure, and he could therefore miss the remainder of the season.
Given the level of interest in him during the mid-season window, clubs will be expected to return in the summer, when Palace will again be open to offers.
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