Jean-Philippe Mateta’s transfer to Milan was born from the desire to test himself at the highest levels of European football. His agents have pushed Crystal Palace to reach an agreement on the transfer fee, which should be around 35 million euros.
A move to Nottingham Forest from Crystal Palace has always looked complicated, given that the player’s main motivation for leaving Selhurst Park was to play in the Champions League and further establish himself at a point in his career where he is gaining a key role in the French national team for the World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus also thought about signing Mateta, but the player’s preference has always gone to Milan.
Nottingham Forest feared that renewal talks could be compromised by the player’s ambition and, in the last 24 hours, those fears have come to fruition.
Mateta and Crystal Palace negotiated a contract extension this season, but failed to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement.
The Eagles hoped to keep him at least until the appointment of a new coach, but have now decided to monetize and are discussing the transfer fee, which should be around 35 million euros.
This is an important operation for Milan, which secures a player at the height of his footballing maturity.
Mateta, 28, is enthusiastic about the idea of wearing the shirt of one of the most prestigious clubs in Europe and, once he received the proposal, his agents pushed Crystal Palace to reach an agreement on the transfer fee.
