How Mateta went from Crystal Palace want-away to Conference League hero | OneFootball

Oliver Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

It’s deadline day, 2nd of February and the writing is on the wall: Jean-Philippe Mateta is on his way out of Crystal Palace.

The French international was edging ever closer to sealing a move away after six years at Selhurst Park, following the club’s brutal demotion down from the Europa League on the basis of breaching multi-club ownership rules.

It was a situation out of his control, but with Palace underperforming in the bottom half of the Premier League and Oliver Glasner announcing his departure at the end of the season there was no guarantee of continental success.

But there he was, perfectly poised to tap home the goal to beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the Europa Conference League final and crown the London side as European champions for the first time ever. Here’s how it came to be.

A failed medical and uncertain future

Being demoted to the Conference League certainly left at least a hint of bitterness in what was otherwise the greatest day in the history of the London club, beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to win the FA Cup and qualification to the Europa League.

Being found to be in breach of UEFA’s rules against multi-club ownership due to American businessman John Textor’s stake in French side Lyon and 44% stake in the Eagles, they would have to get back there the hard way: win the Conference League.

And win it they did, in the most poetic way possible: Mateta tapping in one of the easier goals he’s scored throughout his Palace career, one that seemed nailed on to end in January only to see his move to Milan fall through after failing his medical.

But sticking in January, the reason for Mateta’s frustration was the knee issues that he had been nursing since November 2025, resulting in AC Milan pulling out on the £30m transfer at the last second.

His injury, which was preceded by Glasner’s announcement that he would leave Palace at the end of the season, cast doubt on his chances of winning a trophy this season and also heading to the World Cup with France.

It certainly appeared to be a cruel twist of fate at the time, having received his first France call-up last October aged 28.

However, it would later emerge that Mateta’s injury was not as serious as first thought based on the opinion of specialist doctors, with Glasner promising he would be welcomed back into the squad to help them on the road to European glory.

Stroke of misfortune or blessing in disguise?

Mateta yesterday admitted that it was a challenge to move on from the collapse of his transfer due to the knee issues uncovered by his medical in Italy, with the arrival of striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves providing competition on his return.

Speaking to the Independent, he said: “It wasn’t easy. It was a lot of work. I worked with some beautiful people who helped me. You just have to believe in yourself.

“There were a lot of phases. I was injured then I had the thing with Milan. After that, I had to come back. I was just realistic. When I knew it was off with Milan, I knew I had to come back.

“When there was no surgery, I knew I had to come back earlier in my head and work hard. There was a new striker, so there was competition. It’s just football. I’m not the first to have this and I won’t be the last.

“I like pressure. I like that people thought it was finished when it was not.”

The knee issues ultimately meant he remained a Palace player, but it could very well have been a blessing in disguise in terms of his mission to move on to better and bigger things.

AC Milan had slumped to an eighth place finish in the 2024/25 Serie A campaign and were without any European football at the time. Now, Mateta is a Conference League winner with Palace and a move to Milan in the summer would in some fans eyes represent a sidewards step to another team competing in the Europa League.

There is, however, the temptation of challenging for a Scudetto and playing Champions League football somewhere down the line. But Milan will be entering a second year absent from that tournament and a fifth since winning the league.

Though several high-profile Premier League teams or other clubs that can promise a step up to Europe’s most prestigious club competition, one thing is certain. He wouldn’t have another trophy under his belt if it panned out differently.

Palace’s crowning goal

Mateta would return to action in the Conference League and play a part in the Eagles’ impressive 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of the quarter final, and then came the golden moment.

The London club started brightly and carved out the best chance of the first half when Tyrique Mitchell’s diving header went within inches of the opening goal, keeping in good shape when choosing not to exact a press to limit Vallecano to one real half-chance.

Mateta was in the perfect place at the perfect time during the contest and was the most composed head at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena when he notched a trademark poacher’s goal, steering home the follow up to Adam Wharton’s long range effort.

“I feel fantastic! I feel fantastic!,” Mateta told TNT Sports.

“We did it! First time in Europe, we did it. Now I just want to celebrate, go to party, and this guy [presenter and Palace icon Joel Ward] has to celebrate with us too! That is how I feel.

“It is incredible. We did everything. I told you about the intensity they would put. I am tired right now. I give everything.

“Jorgen [Strand-Larsen] gave everything, and that is why we won today.

“I am always with them. They support me as a player a lot and as a team they are always behind us. We do it for them too.”

It was only his second goal in the Europa Conference League this season, but showed his true striker’s quality in reading precisely where to place himself inside the penalty area.

And the Frenchman may never score a more important one in any other Conference League game he players or, indeed, what remains of his career with Crystal Palace and beyond.

Will Mateta leave Crystal Palace?

Mateta could well be one of the players following Glasner away from the club, with Juventus rumored to have reignited their interest in the 28-year-old and be eyeing up a move following the World Cup starting this June, as per Italian journalist Mirko Di Natale.

But as Palace have reinstated themselves in the Europa League – which the Old Lady will also be competing in next season alongside fellow Italian side AC Milan – Mateta may well see the move as a sidewards step if no bigger club comes knocking.

It must be said, his historic trophy winner will only increase interest from the market – albeit increasing his price tag as well, to the benefit of Palace.

He may well attract interest from a club that has qualified for the Champions League. His move may finally materialize as it was supposed to back in January.

But if that is the case, then he will do so having left the fans he was so close to leaving behind with the perfect parting gift.