Mateta’s Contract Claim Leaves Palace With Transfer Decision

The latest twist in what has, certainly of late, been a rollercoaster ride between Jean-Philippe Mateta and Crystal Palace has once more thrown the striker’s future at the club under scrutiny.
On Saturday that Mateta has been arguing the final year on his Palace contract should be ruled invalid – and the fact he has taken the dispute to a Premier League independent tribunal and a Fifa hearing – makes for an intriguing dynamic heading into the closing days of the transfer window.
Despite Mateta and his advisers’ challenge that the last year of the player’s deal is not legally binding – because it was an extension option activated by the club on his original four-and-a-half-year contract – the France international remains contracted to Palace.
Days before starting Palace’s Premier League opener at Everton, Fifa ruled that the matter was not in its jurisdiction. And while the outcome of last season’s Premier League’s independent tribunal is unconfirmed, the fact Mateta remains contracted to Palace indicates the hearing did not go his way.
With that in mind, certainly from Palace’s perspective, the dispute is closed.
The fact Mateta played 63 minutes for Palace on Saturday suggests any damage caused to the relationship between player and club is not irreparable.
Mateta has shown before he is capable of changing the narrative at Selhurst Park in his favour.
Having nearly left the club, owing to a knee issue which meant a move to Italian giants AC Milan collapsed, the 29-year-old was routinely booed by Palace supporters when he returned to action for the club in the second half of the season.
But in May, Mateta was the toast of south London after scoring the winner in Palace’s Uefa Conference League triumph over Rayo Vallecano.
There was then pride at Palace when Mateta fulfilled his dream of representing France during the World Cup.