Jean-Philippe Mateta is typically the life of the party at Crystal Palace, but the Frenchman now finds himself in a peculiar situation.
The France international tried – but failed – to leave Selhurst Park during the winter transfer window, undergoing a late medical with AC Milan before the deal collapsed due to a knee problem.
Nevertheless, Steve Parish went ahead with the £48m deal to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen as a replacement, so it remains to be seen if the Crystal Palace No.14 will actually play for the Eagles again.
Some might assume this unique situation has created a moody Jean-Philippe Mateta around Copers Cope, but a reporter in attendance at the open training session on Wednesday suggested otherwise.
Jean-Philippe Mateta spotted “in good spirits” before Zrinjski Mostar clash
The 28-year-old is still recovering from the knee issue which led AC Milan to send him back to south London, but was out on the grass at Copers Cope watching his teammates train ahead of the crucial UEFA Conference League clash against Zrinjski Mostar.
A reporter in attendance at the open training session by the name of Andrew M on X (previously known as Twitter) kept an eye on Mateta during the session, making a note of his behaviour. He posted: “In good spirits, watching the team train and talking to them.”
It is – however – unclear as to how the striker is viewed by his teammates.
His popularity in the dressing room before the transfer saga surely makes it hard for most to hate him, although comments from Dean Henderson in the press conference on Wednesday strongly suggest the Crystal Palace No.1 himself is far from happy with the man born in Sevran.
What Dean Henderson said suggests England international wants rid of Mateta
The Crystal Palace captain did not mince his words when sat alongside Oliver Glasner to speak to the media, sending a message to those who might be thinking of leaving Selhurst Park.
The News Shopper quote Henderson as saying: “They certainly shouldn’t (be thinking about their next move) and if they have they need to be very careful, because if you don’t put the performances in, then ultimately you don’t get the move.
“They need to be very careful. I’m not aware of it, but I would suggest they should be careful if they are thinking like that.”
Jean-Philippe Mateta looks dejected during a Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
These comments therefore suggest Henderson is already quite irritated by Mateta – who clashed with Wilfried Zaha recently – given the fact the striker made no secret of his desire to leave Crystal Palace, but yet remains in SE25.