Jean-Philippe Mateta ‘Devastated’ After AC Milan Deadline Day Deal Collapsed
The striker will instead see out the rest of the season at Crystal Palace.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is ‘devastated’ and ‘upset’ after his proposed move to AC Milan fell through.
How Jean-Philippe Mateta Reacted After AC Milan Disappointment
Mateta was set to join Milan from Crystal Palace on deadline day after an agreement was struck in the final knockings of the window.
However, his medical highlighted a niggling knee problem that has caused him to play through discomfort for several months. Milan then dispatched club doctors to perform further checks before making a final decision.
Ultimately, the Serie A club pulled out of the £26million deal, leaving Mateta stranded and unhappy at Palace.
Juventus also weighed up launching a last-minute swoop, but again, his knee issue put them off making an offer.
Mateta is hopeful of making France’s World Cup squad and was desperate to leave Selhurst Park.
Instead, he is now contemplating whether to undergo surgery to fix the long-standing problem. The 28-year-old has also unfollowed Palace on Instagram after posting a fed-up emoji on his public story.
According to Sky Sports, Mateta is ‘devastated, disappointed and upset’ after failing to secure his dream switch.
He is unlikely to be included in Palace’s squad for their trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, and no matter the decision on surgery, he will leave the East London side at the end of the season.
Mateta will speak to a knee specialist to decide on the best course of action, but would miss several months – and potentially the rest of the campaign – if he chooses to go under the knife.
AC Milan Striker Options
While Max Allegri would have preferred a new striker, he will not be too disheartened to miss out on Mateta.
Dusan Vlahovic will return for Juventus next month but is still likely to leave on a free transfer next summer.
That would, of course, allow Milan to seal a bargain switch, provided he compromises on his wages. Currently, Vlahovic is on a staggering €22m per year salary, making him the highest-paid player in Serie A.
For now, Allegri will persist with Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic and Niclas Fullkrug, who has impressed since joining on loan from West Ham United in January.
Santiago Gimenez is also on the road to recovery after undergoing surgery on his right ankle in December.
Dan Davis
Dan is an experienced sports journalist and part-time lecturer. An expert on Serie A and Italian football, he has produced content for the likes of the Daily Mail, Reach PLC, GiveMeSport, FourFourTwo and GRV Media. While Channel 4's iconic Football Italia was a bit before his time, the nostalgia - and pastries - fuelled his love of all things Calcio.
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