The captain is gone, the coach is on edge—now Crystal Palace could also lose its best striker. Jean-Philippe Mateta is apparently even putting pressure on the club internally.
It would be an exaggeration to talk of signs of disintegration. Nevertheless, it is remarkable to see the situation Crystal Palace suddenly finds itself in eight months after its sensational FA Cup triumph. After ten consecutive competitive games without a win, there is unrest not only on the pitch for the Eagles, who until recently were enjoying perhaps the best phase in their long club history.
One day before the Premier League match in Sunderland (1-2), the club’s management approved the sale of captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City, which angered coach Oliver Glasner so much that he accepted early dismissal. Only a crisis summit, it is said, prevented the club from parting ways with the Austrian.
Glasner had publicly criticized his superiors (“I feel like we’re being completely abandoned”) shortly after announcing his departure in the summer. Not many coaches would have “survived” such a frontal attack.
And now Glasner is in danger of losing another key player this winter after Guehi. Top striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been toying with the idea of leaving Palace for some time, but according to media reports, he has now officially submitted his request for an immediate transfer. It would be another heavy blow for a squad that Glasner already considers to be far too thin.
Mateta, who was unable to agree on an extension to his contract with Palace, which expires in 2027, was recently the subject of concrete interest from Juventus Turin, but they have since distanced themselves from a move. Palace, according to The Athletic, are demanding €40 million, even though Mateta will turn 29 in June and only has a year and a half left on his contract.
Will that deter Aston Villa? The Premier League’s third-placed team is also said to have put out feelers for the former Mainz player after ex-Dortmund player Donyell Malen left on loan with an option to buy to AS Roma, leaving a vacancy in the offense.
Glasner is pragmatic in his comments – as he was initially about Guehi
Mateta is not only dreaming of Champions League football, but also of a place in the French World Cup squad. The 1.92-meter giant made his debut for Didier Deschamps in the fall and was invited back in November (three international caps, two goals). By summer at the latest, their paths will part – as they did with Glasner.
Glasner recently said of his long-time star player (22 starts, eight goals): “There will be a price at which Crystal Palace will say, ‘He still has 18 months on his contract, we’ll do the deal if JP wants to.’ If no one pays that price, JP will stay.” However, Glasner had originally been just as realistic and pragmatic about Guehi – until his transfer caused a minor earthquake.
