Mateta Thanks Milan for Failed Transfer

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has expressed gratitude to AC Milan after a failed medical examination revealed his knee injury was “more serious than he had been told” by the English club. “Thankfully, they found exactly what the problem was,” he shared.

Initially, the footballer appeared upset and disappointed that his January transfer to the Rossoneri fell through, despite a €35 million deal having been agreed upon. Looking back, however, he now considers that moment a crucial turning point in his career and is thankful that the Italian club’s doctors were so thorough.

“I was undergoing the medical tests, and suddenly everything stopped,” Mateta recounted to “Canal+ Foot” in France. “My knee injury was actually more serious than I had been told. At that moment, when they explained it to me, all sorts of thoughts raced through my mind. In the end, I have no regrets because if I hadn’t had that medical examination, how long would I have dragged this knee problem? How long?” the striker added.

The forward had torn the meniscus in his right knee while playing for Mainz in 2019, undergoing surgery that sidelined him for six months. Milan’s doctors determined the issue was severe enough to require another operation, while Crystal Palace had insisted that therapy and load management would suffice.

Further questions were raised by comments from then-Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who stated it was “no big surprise” that the player failed his medical at Milan.

“Of course, if you play for two and a half months with a swollen knee and your load needs to be managed, we knew, and he knew, that there was a problem with his knee.”

Ultimately, surgery was not required, but Mateta was prescribed complete rest and treatment for five weeks to allow his knee to recover sufficiently for him to participate with France in the World Cup.