Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has admitted it is 'natural for ambitious players' to want to play in the Champions League, fuelling speculation about his future. The 28-year-old Frenchman, who has become one of the Premier League's most effective forwards, made the comments after being asked if he would like to move up a gear to join an elite club.
Mateta has enjoyed a remarkable transformation since joining Palace from Mainz in 2022. After a slow start, he has flourished under Oliver Glasner, scoring 17 goals last season and 19 the season before. His form earned him a France call-up and a place in the national team set-up alongside players who regularly feature in the Champions League.
'When you play surrounded by the best players in the world, naturally you want to reach that milestone,' Mateta told RMC Sport. Palace have already seen key players like Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze move on to bigger clubs, and Mateta's latest comments suggest he may follow suit.
Manchester United have been linked with Mateta in the past, with former manager Sam Allardyce urging them to sign him before they opted for Benjamin Sesko in the summer. 'Do you know who I’d have bought, more than anybody else? Mateta, absolutely,' Allardyce said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast. United ultimately spent over £70m on Sesko.
Mateta has already scored four times this season for a Palace side that are flying high in the Premier League. The Eagles are also competing in the Europa Conference League, and a strong campaign could further enhance Mateta's reputation and increase interest from top clubs.
