Star man should fight for glory – not a transfer
A Crystal Palace legend has urged wantaway striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta to forget about leaving the club and concentrate on helping his side win a trophy.
The French international, desperate to cement a World Cup spot with his country, has expressed a desire to leave Selhurst Park after failed bids from Juventus and interest from Aston Villa.
But Clinton Morrison, who enjoyed two spells with the Eagles, reckons the 28-year-old needs to get his priorities right.
“What he has to realise, if he wants to get into the French national squad he needs to be playing regular football,” Morrison said. “If he goes to somewhere like a Villa or Juventus, will he be a regular?
“I think from now to the end of the season he needs to knuckle down and appreciate the club’s position. It’s not all doom and gloom for Palace, they could still win a European trophy and finishing strongly is easily done. I think the timing of it is all wrong in my eyes.”
Palace value Mateta at around £35m, way above the figure Juventus appear prepared to pay. The Italian giants favour an initial loan deal with a view to a permanent deal in the summer.
The centre-forward, who has 18 months left on his contract at the south London club, has watched on as teammate Marc Guehi joined Manchester City, and manager Oliver Glasner confirmed his departure at the end of the season.
Speaking to Freebets, Morrison added: “Maybe he's got someone in his ear, maybe his agent telling him we need to move now and strike while the iron's hot, but the iron could even be hotter in the summer.
“I've seen this play out many times and the chairman [Steve Parish] is a clever businessman. He's not going to let a player go even though he keeps saying he wants to leave for under the money that he should be worth.
“If they pay the right money, then I think the chairman will let him go for sure. But I can’t see any club matching that given he’s only got 18 months left on his deal.”