Mateta’s World Cup Aspirations at Risk Due to Knee Injury

Injury Highlights Concerns for Crystal Palace Striker

Crystal Palace’s head coach Oliver Glasner has revealed that Jean-Philippe Mateta’s knee injury, which halted a lucrative transfer to AC Milan, could jeopardize his ambitions of participating in the upcoming World Cup.

Mateta was poised to make a switch to Milan for £30 million on transfer deadline day; however, the transfer collapsed due to complications revealed during his medical assessments.

The 28-year-old forward has been troubled by issues affecting his right knee throughout the initial part of the season. Glasner remarked, “We were aware of the problem and so was he, and it certainly left him dissatisfied. We opted to take the risk to allow him to play in most matches, yet we had to manage his time on the pitch, sidelining him for certain games and training.”

He added, “It was not entirely unexpected that he would not pass the medical examination. We were all aware that such a situation could arise.”

Future Options for Mateta Before World Cup

The French international is at a crossroads concerning his future, especially with the World Cup on the horizon. Glasner articulated two potential paths: “We can continue managing the knee issue as we have been until after the World Cup, which is Mateta’s ultimate goal, or he may need to contemplate surgery.”

Glasner explained that the determination of the recovery timeline was uncertain, with possibilities ranging from two months to as long as nine months. “The priority is to make the correct decision, and we will reach a conclusion next week.”

In 2019, Mateta suffered a meniscus tear while at Mainz, resulting in a six-month rehabilitation period following surgery. A similar absence this time could effectively extinguish his hopes of participating in the World Cup, just four months away.

Glasner’s Reflections on Transfer Market

Despite Mateta remaining at Crystal Palace, who is currently the club’s leading scorer with eight goals this season, the team has invested a record fee to recruit striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves. They were also on the brink of securing Everton winger Dwight McNeil, only for the deal to collapse shortly before the deadline.

Glasner mentioned he had come to terms with the challenging nature of the transfer window, stating that despite efforts to find a replacement for captain Marc Guehi, who moved to Manchester City, they were unable to finalize any deals.

He remarked, “Ultimately, the club exerted a lot of effort, making substantial offers for a replacement, but clubs were unwilling to sell players at the last minute.”

Despite the setback regarding Mateta, Glasner acknowledged the club’s significant investment in Strand Larsen. “Regarding McNeil, we believed we were close to finalizing his acquisition, but the terms shifted at the last moment, and the deal fell through. I had planned for him to join us in training the following day.”

Following the failed transfer, McNeil’s partner used social media to express dissatisfaction with Crystal Palace’s handling of the situation. Everton manager David Moyes clarified that the breakdown of the transfer was unrelated to his club, asserting that McNeil is doing well and participating in training. “We know exactly where things fell apart,” Moyes stated. “We had granted permission for Dwight to undergo a medical examination and take care of other requisite steps, so there was little more we could do.”