Jean-Philippe Mateta on playing for a ‘big English club’: ‘Every ambitious player wants to make that step.’ | OneFootball

At 28, Jean-Philippe Mateta has received his first call-up to the France national team. The Crystal Palace forward played for Les Bleus back in the summer of 2024, representing Thierry Henry’s Olympics side in Paris, however, he will now look to make an impact for Didier Deschamps’ side and not only play a part in France’s qualification for the World Cup but also secure his ticket on the plane.

Les Bleus continue their qualification campaign on Friday when they come up against Azerbaijan, and ahead of that game, Mateta spoke to RMC Sport, evoking his time at Crystal Palace and his future at the London club.

“I think that we have a good squad and an excellent manager who is doing a really good job. We try to implement everything that the manager wants,” he began, before evoking the ambitions of a side that currently sits sixth in the Premier League.

‘We will see’ – Mateta on his future at Crystal Palace

“We don’t just want to play like we did in recent years. I think that we have already progressed in these last two seasons and so I think that this year, we will be even more ambitious,” said Mateta.

Last season, Crystal Palace won the FA Cup, which ultimately allowed them to participate in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Whilst in Wednesday’s press conference, Mateta said that he “made the right choice” by staying at Palace, he said that “we will see” with regards to his future at Selhurst Park.

In his interview with RMC Sport he was asked if he would like to make the step and play for one of the “big English clubs”, to which he responded, “That is natural. Every ambitious player wants to make that step, especially when you arrive in the national team and around you there are only players who are playing in the Champions League, who win the biggest trophies. When you are surrounded by the best players in the world, naturally, you want to make that step,” he said.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle