According to The Pitch Prospect, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s £30million move to AC Milan fell through after medical tests revealed a knee problem.
The Frenchman has been pining for an exit from Selhurst Park all month after refusing to enter into contract negotiations to extend his stay beyond 2027.
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A move to Italy was always a priority for the 28-year-old – despite Nottingham Forest making him a £35million offer.
Mateta representatives previously held discussions but sought a loan agreement with a purchase option or obligation.
The Pitch Prospect first reported Milan’s interest in December, when we told you about the centre-forward’s willingness to test himself in Serie A.
And he only had his eye on playing for the Rossoneri once they officially expressed their interest, and they backed out of the deal after club doctors examined him in Paris.
On Saturday evening, Mateta took to social media to subtly express his frustration with his situation by posting an angry emoji.
Deal or no deal?
But the next day, Milan and Palace agreed a £30m deal – £5m less than what Forest had offered.
Palace owner Steve Parish has been leading the negotiations himself, with him keen to move Mateta abroad rather than to Forest while last summer’s European Cup campaign attracted much attention.
Parish have already been looking for a replacement for Mateta, agreeing a £48m deal to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves, who has passed his medicals.
Although Palace insist the deal will go ahead if Mateta stays at the club.
Palace have also already secured the services of Evann Guessand on loan from Aston Villa.
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With Mateta’s San Siro switch now off, it remains to be seen whether Juventus return to the table with an 11th-hour loan offer.
Mateta is now attracting interest from other clubs from all over Europe.
Before Palace’s 1-1 draw away at Forest on Sunday, where he did not feature, Mateta had featured in every Premier League game this season.
He started in the club’s first 23 top-flight games and played a further 11 times in the Conference League, Carabao Cup and Community Shield.
He has scored ten goals in all competitions this season, eight of which came in the Premier League.
Since initially joining Palace on loan in January 2021, Mateta has only missed four games due to injury.
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Each of those missed games came last season after he suffered a head injury in Palace’s FA Cup fifth round win over Millwall.
Mateta was kicked in the face by goalkeeper Liam Roberts, leading to nine medics monitoring the player, who was later taken to hospital where he suffered 26 stitches.
His injury was so severe that his plastic surgeon refused to show him pictures of his ear.
But despite the horrific ordeal, he was back playing with protective headgear just three weeks later.