Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage looks on at his watch before the Premier League match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday August 22, 2026. (Image: PA)
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage looks on at his watch before the Premier League match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool. Picture date: Saturday August 22, 2026. (Image: PA)
Pierre Sage admitted that he believes that Jean-Philippe Mateta will remain at Crystal Palace beyond the end of the transfer window, despite rumours linking the Frenchman with a move to Aston Villa in recent days.
The link with a move away from Selhurst Park comes after reports emerged over the weekend that Mateta argued that the remainder of his Crystal Palace contract was invalid, despite the deal being due to expire in June 2027.
That attempt to rule it invalid fell at the hands of FIFA and a Premier League independent tribunal, the latter of which was initiated by Crystal Palace itself according to reports.
Despite the ongoing situation, Sage reiterated that Mateta was happy at the club, and believed he would remain at Crystal Palace past the end of the summer transfer window.
“I think he will stay.
“I speak with him every day, and in front of me, I have a funny guy, happy to be here. He gives his best in every session.
“I didn't see a player; what problem with the club or with us? That's why he played the last game as a starter.
“You imagine that if we have a problem with him, he will not play as a starter.
“Now it's just a problem that will result, but it's maybe with the man, but not with the player, if you want.
“He has the behaviour of someone happy to be here, wants to be here, and prepared to be here all the season.”
Ismaïla Sarr has also been strongly linked with a move away from Crystal Palace during the summer window, and was not a part of the matchday squad in the Eagles' 2-0 defeat at Everton.
Sage confirmed that he would not play on Friday against Manchester City, as he continued to recover from injury.
“No chance”
‘Ismalia Sarr is in individual sessions because of pain in his groin. I thought it would be quicker, but we wait for him to come back with us”
Reports have also linked Sarr with an exit from Crystal Palace in recent weeks, though Sage believed there was no link between the injury and rumours of an exit.
“I understand for everybody that having this kind of contact [transfers] is difficult because you hesitate a lot.
“For the moment, he is with us, is under contract, as I told you, he is injured, and maybe you can make a link between his injury and the situation, but for me, he is honest, and I have no problem with that.
“I spoke with him this morning about that yesterday, and we just want him on the pitch.”
On a more positive side for the Eagles, The club announced the signing of French defender Axel Disasi on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
A move for a central defender has been in the works, following Maxence Lacroix’s move from Crystal Palace to Chelsea earlier in the summer window.
Sage admitted that there were ldifferent factors which contributed to Palace deciding to sign the Frenchman.
“He's a football player, you know, his job, and we have the opportunity to help him win time to come into the team.
“I like a lot of things; he can help the team be stable in this department [centre-back], because we have an injury, and we wanted to recruit.
“That's why we needed another player in this department.
“He gave us confidence; he brings experience; he is good on the ball and can play anywhere in the back three.”