Mateta ‘to start’ for Palace against Fiorentina, three months after failed Milan move | OneFootball

Sky Sport Italia reports that Jean-Phillipe Mateta will start for Crystal Palace against Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter-final first leg at Selhurst Park on Thursday night. La Gazzetta dello Sport makes the same claim, three months after his January switch to Milan collapsed.

Mateta has not started for Palace in any competition since the 3-1 defeat against Chelsea in the Premier League on January 25.

He was close to joining Milan in the final days of the January window. The clubs had agreed a fee in excess of 20m and Palace moved for Jorgen Strand Larsen as a replacement.

That deal stalled amid concerns over an underlying knee issue. Reports in Italy said three different experts warned Milan against the signing, and head coach Oliver Glasner later said it was not a big surprise that the move fell through.

There were fears in the UK that Mateta would require surgery. Glasner outlined an alternative rehabilitation route, which might better serve the striker’s hopes of featuring for France at the 2026 World Cup.

Mateta chose not to have surgery, paving the way for his return to action. A start against Fiorentina would be his first since that Chelsea match.

Source: Football Italia