Milan Rejects Crystal Palace Striker Mateta Over Knee Medical Issues

Italian club AC Milan rejected a deal to sign French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta from English side Crystal Palace during the final hours of the transfer window last February. The decision came after the player failed to pass rigorous medical examinations, which revealed issues in his right knee linked to a previous injury. The tests confirmed a defect in the knee, preventing the club from risking a transfer for the forward at that stage of the season.

Dr. Mazzoni, head of AC Milan's medical staff, explained that the decision to withdraw from the deal was made after additional medical investigations in London. The medical official traveled specifically to confirm the player's health status before the official signing. It was revealed that the observed issues stemmed from a meniscus injury Mateta suffered in 2019, which kept him out of action for a full six months.

Crystal Palace's management had expected to receive €35 million for Mateta, but the final medical report prevented the completion of the transfer. Following the collapsed move, the French striker was sidelined for up to six weeks due to a recurrence of pain in the same knee. This further reinforced the accuracy of the medical assessment conducted by the Italian staff before withdrawing from the deal.

Mateta had scored 7 goals in his first 13 Premier League matches before negotiations began. He also played a prominent role in Crystal Palace's FA Cup victory last season, the first title in the club's history. However, physical challenges ultimately prevented his move to Serie A.