During the 2024 summer transfer window, several players expressed their desire to leave Crystal Palace.
First, Sam Johnstone asked to leave Crystal Palace after Oliver Glasner made it clear that Dean Henderson will be his No.1 at Selhurst Park this season.
Then Naouirou Ahamada also asked to leave SE25 due to lack of playing time.
Now another player has hinted that he too wanted to leave Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window – but the Eagles blocked the exit…
Jean-Philippe Mateta hints that he wanted to leave Crystal Palace
Jean-Philippe Mateta was the talk of the town in the summer following his outstanding finish to the 2023/24 season and also due to his outstanding performances for France at the Olympics.
The £9m man scored 13 goals in his last 13 Premier League games last season before scoring five goals in six games at the Olympics as France won silverware.
A glut of goals has Mateta reportedly looking to leave Crystal Palace for a move to the UEFA Champions League as talks over a new deal at Selhurst Park stalled.
Now the Frenchman has indeed confirmed that he wanted to take a different route in the summer, but Crystal Palace stood in the way.
Mateta tells L’Equipe: “I am a realistic person. The club didn’t want to sell me. Well, I’m moving forward and doing everything to make the team achieve better results than last year. When the time comes to ask such questions (about his future), we will ask ourselves.
“In football, you have to adapt quickly, focus on the upcoming hands and not dwell on the past.”
It is heartening to know that the 27-year-old is now fully focused on helping Crystal Palace, although it is worrying to hear that he wanted to leave.
In case you missed it, Aston Villa are the side who tried to sign Mateta – they made contact to inquire about his situation before the rumors died down, according to the Express .
A difficult decision may be on the horizon
If Crystal Palace fail to find a breakthrough in contract negotiations with Mateta, he may have to be sold at the end of the season.
At this point, the Sevran man will have just 12 months left on his contract – which expires in July 2026 – meaning we risk losing the valuable asset for nothing if the sale is not completed in 2025.
Let’s hope that we don’t end up in this situation and that Mateta signs a new contract before the end of the current campaign.