Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed Jean-Philippe Mateta will make a decision next week on whether to undergo surgery for a persistent knee problem that scuppered a proposed move to AC Milan.
The France forward had been carrying a swollen knee this season and failed a medical in Italy on Transfer Deadline Day, ending a potential £26m transfer to the Serie A side. Glasner said the outcome was not unexpected given the injury history and the time Mateta has spent playing through swelling.
“The player’s welfare is the most important thing,” Glasner said, explaining that Palace have rested Mateta in some matches and training as part of ongoing management. After consulting three specialists — in England, Italy and France — the club will now seek a fourth opinion from a German doctor Mateta trusts from his time at Mainz in 2022.
Glasner said they will see that doctor on Monday and then decide on the best route. There are effectively two options: manage the knee conservatively until after the World Cup, allowing Mateta to aim for selection for France, or operate now. Glasner warned recovery timelines are uncertain — surgery could rule him out for as little as two or three months, or as long as six to nine months.
The failed move to Milan was one of several late deals to fall through on Deadline Day; Dwight McNeil’s proposed transfer to Palace also collapsed, despite McNeil passing his medical, leaving his family upset.
Asked if Mateta would face any disciplinary action or be treated differently after the collapsed transfer, Glasner stressed his responsibilities as manager. Mateta remains under contract at Palace and must meet the same obligations as his teammates. “If he doesn’t have surgery and his knee is okay, he will rejoin training, be reintegrated and compete for his place like everyone else,” Glasner said.
Glasner described Mateta as “a great guy” who is handling the disappointment, adding that he had given the player space for a few days before discussing the situation. He expressed confidence that, after the upcoming medical review and a frank discussion, they will make the right decision and that Mateta’s situation will be resolved.