Jean-Philippe Mateta, the big turn before the World Cup?
There are some careers that can change in a matter of weeks. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s may be heading that way.
Last winter, the French striker thought he was touching one of the biggest challenges of his career. AC Milan had made their move, talks were progressing and everything seemed lined up for him to take the next step. Then it all stopped dead. A medical that raised questions, concerns over his knee and a transfer that collapsed when it looked all but done.
For many players, that kind of setback leaves a mark. For Mateta, it seems to have lit a fire.
A few months on, the picture looks very different. The former Mainz forward ended the season with a smile, a European trophy in his hands and a stock value higher than ever. At 28, he is no longer just a useful Premier League striker. He is a player top clubs are once again watching closely.
A season that changes everything
In modern football, memory is short. Very short.
The medical doubts around Mateta at the start of the year soon faded as the weeks rolled by. On the pitch, the Crystal Palace striker answered in the best way possible: by scoring.
With 12 league goals and, crucially, a decisive strike in the Conference League final win over Rayo Vallecano, the Frenchman finished the 2025-2026 campaign almost perfectly.
Even more than the numbers, it was his influence that caught the eye. Strong, capable with his back to goal, effective in duels and still relentless in his work rate, Mateta showed he has taken another leap in his football maturity.
That progress has not gone unnoticed by Didier Deschamps. Named in the World Cup squad for the United States, the striker arrives at the tournament full of confidence and with the feeling that he has finally found his level.
AC Milan are back in the hunt
And what if last winter’s unfinished business finally picks up again?
According to several Italian outlets, AC Milan never really gave up on Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Lombardy club are still keeping close tabs on the Frenchman and now believe the fitness questions belong to the past.
The timing has also changed. Under contract until 2027 with Crystal Palace, the striker is now in a weaker position from his club’s point of view when it comes to negotiations. The result: his price could come in below the 35 million euros talked about a few months ago.
For Milan, it looks a tempting opening. The club is planning a major squad refresh and wants players who can make an impact straight away. Mateta fits the brief in several ways: experience, power, efficiency and room to grow in a more ambitious setting.
The Glasner factor
One more piece could speed this up.
Italian reports are heavily linking Oliver Glasner with a possible move to the Milan dugout. The Austrian coach knows Mateta well from their time together at Crystal Palace and is a big fan of his profile.
In a game where managers want players who can pick up their ideas quickly, that relationship could matter a great deal. If Glasner really does land in Milan, Mateta’s name would surely shoot back to the top of the wishlist.
This has all the makings of a fast-moving deal. Milan want to get on with it. The player knows chances like this do not come around every summer.
With the World Cup kicking off in just a few weeks, Jean-Philippe Mateta finds himself at a huge crossroads in his career. Six months ago, his future looked stuck. Today, it could be written at one of Europe’s most famous clubs.
Football loves a comeback. Mateta’s may be unfolding right in front of us.
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