Crystal Palace supporters have grown accustomed to the sight of Jean Philippe Mateta leading the line with a bullish grin and a knack for the chaotic....
Crystal Palace supporters have grown accustomed to the sight of Jean Philippe Mateta leading the line with a bullish grin and a knack for the chaotic. But if you think the big Frenchman is settled in South London, think again. GoalZaza has learned that the striker's camp is adamant: his future lies in Italy.The move that fell through on the final frantic day of the January window was no flight of fancy. A £30m deal with AC Milan was essentially signed, sealed, and waiting for a rubber stamp. Then, as so often happens in the theatre of deadline day, the paperwork slipped through the cracks and the transfer collapsed. But this was not a case of cold feet or a last minute change of heart. It was a logistical breakdown, and Mateta, by all accounts, was furious.Now, with the summer window looming, the Serpenti of Serie A are circling once more. Milan are still keen, but they are no longer the only suitors. This striker is a throwback. A player who thrives in the physical maelstrom of a penalty box, who can hold up play inside a low block and still find the composure for a clinical finish. That profile is rare in modern football, and it is precisely the kind of spearhead that any Italian manager craving tactical flexibility craves.The word from those close to the player is that he has shown 'tremendous character' during a difficult second half of the season. He has not sulked. He has not downed tools. He has continued to barge through centre halves and cause mayhem for Premier League defenders. But the heart is already halfway across the Alps. The question for Oliver Glasner and the Palace board is simple: do you cash in this summer or risk losing him for nothing next year Because make no mistake, if a Serie A giant comes calling with a structured bid and a project that fits his game, Mateta is gone. The door is already ajar.
