Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Crystal Palace are weighing up whether he should undergo surgery in a bid to make the World Cup with France.
A disappointed Mateta has returned to the fold with his Palace teammates after seeing a £30million deadline day move to AC Milan fall through on medical grounds.
Mateta has struggled for fitness at times this season and has been managing knee pain.
Prior to Christmas, Palace coach Oliver Glasner was open about the fact that the club were trying to nurse Mateta through games and were hopeful they could do so without the 28-year-old requiring surgery.
Palace were up front with Milan about the condition of his knees, sending the Italians full medical reports towards the end of last week in preparation for a transfer being concluded.
However, after initial examinations, Milan’s reservations were raised over Mateta’s right knee. The striker had ruptured the meniscus in 2019 when playing for Mainz and he underwent surgery that kept him out for six months.
Jean-Philippe Mateta could undergo surgery to fix an ongoing knee injury that has plagued him
The knee injury stopped the Crystal Palace striker joining AC Milan on transfer deadline day
Milan sent club doctor Stefano Mazzoni to carry out further tests and he concluded that Mateta would likely require an operation rather than load management to cure the problem, described as ‘inflammation’, potentially ruling him out for three months.
That may seem excessive to Palace staff but there is a growing sense that surgery may be the best course of action so that Mateta could come back towards the end of the season.
The £48m arrival of Jorgen Strand Larsen gives Palace a ready-made replacement, but Mateta’s concern is playing enough first team games to make France’s World Cup squad.
A fully fit Mateta will also suit Palace’s plan to sell the striker this summer. His current deal expires in 2027 and all parties want a resolution before next season begins.
