Jean-Phillipe Mateta will not see Italy. Indeed, the arrival of the French player (28 years old) in Serie A was not completed during the last hours of the winter transfer window. A physical problem dating from six and a half years ago actually disturbed him when he underwent his medical examination, which caused the leaders of AC Milan to take a step back at the time of the transfer. Before the meeting between Bologna and the Milanese on Tuesday (0-3), the sporting director of the Lombard club detailed what was a real failure in the case of the Crystal Palace striker. “Operation Mateta was about the future and not the present. We tried to anticipate it, then we encountered this physical problem and decided not to continue the negotiation. The team has done very well so far, Leao has had this problem in recent weeks. Pulisic has some problems, but we are happy with this team and we are moving forward without looking for an alibi.”
If this €35 million transaction was to allow the Rossoneri to have significant reinforcement in their offensive sector, the risk did not take place. This three and a half year contract will not see the light of day. Mateta will thus return to his club in the Premier League, in which he continues his good performances (9 goals and 2 assists in 29 matches), but also sees competition coming. Indeed, he will now be in the company of Jørgen Strand Larsen and Brennan Johnson, purchased during this winter period by the management of the Eagles. After a shattered dream, it will be necessary to prove for the 28-year-old striker, especially since he refused to extend his contract which currently runs until 2027.
