Here is a name that has suddenly appeared on the radar in Turin, and it carries the scent of a very smart piece of business. Jean. Philippe Mateta, th...
Here is a name that has suddenly appeared on the radar in Turin, and it carries the scent of a very smart piece of business. Jean. Philippe Mateta, the man who has become the focal point of Oliver Glasner's resurgent Crystal Palace, is being linked with a summer switch to Juventus. According to information gathered by GoalZaza, the Old Lady are serious about adding the French international to their attacking ranks.The 28 year old has undergone a remarkable transformation at Selhurst Park. From a figure of mild frustration under previous regimes, he has blossomed into a striker of genuine menace. His hold up play is now a thing of rugged beauty, allowing wingers like Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise to run riot. He offers something that current Juventus forwards, for all their talent, do not always provide: a brutal physical presence combined with increasingly clinical finishing.For Thiago Motta, who is reportedly set to take the reins in Piedmont, this would be a fascinating addition. The former midfielder demands total tactical flexibility from his centre forward. Mateta is not just a target man; he can drop deep, link play, and then accelerate into the box. In a low block Serie A, his ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play could be the very key that unlocks stubborn defences. But can Cristiano Giuntoli make this happen without breaking the bank Palace are notoriously tough negotiators, and they will not let their main man leave on the cheap.One has to wonder if this is the right move for Mateta. He has become a hero in South London, adored for his graft and his goals. The Premier League suits his physical style. Yet the allure of Juventus, of playing in the Champions League and testing himself against Italian masters of defending, is a powerful drug. It is a blockbuster switch in the making, but it also carries risk. Leave your comfort zone at your peril, but sometimes the biggest gambles bring the richest rewards.This is one to keep a very close eye on. Make no mistake, Mateta is no longer a footballer you can overlook. He is a proper number nine, and he is ready for the grand stage.
