Why Milan’s Bid for Mateta Crashed: The Shocking Medical Twist
2 February 2026
Why Milan's bid for Mateta collapsed
French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta remained with Crystal Palace after AC Milan's move fell through on the final day of the winter transfer window. Milan had pursued the forward throughout January, yet the deal did not proceed to completion.
What Fabrizio Romano said about the row
Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano stated on X that “Mateta will not join Milan after failing two medicals today.” He added that Palace were informed of the decision, and although the player wanted the move, it could not be finalized.
Context, impact and stats
The reasons behind the failure came as a surprise, given Mateta has started the majority of Crystal Palace’s games this season. He missed Palace’s recent 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest yesterday in the Premier League round 24. Across all competitions this season, Mateta has appeared 34 times for Palace, scoring 10 goals and providing two assists.
Palace’s officials confirmed the decision to the player’s camp, and the forward’s desire to transfer was noted, but the medical obstacles prevented the switch. The episode adds to the narratives of a busy, sometimes unpredictable, winter window in European football.
And for completeness: the article notes embedded promotional links about free Italian football content on STC TV, a reminder that the transfer market is often as much about timing as talent.
Punchline time: first, the medicals didn’t pass the vibe check — apparently Mateta brought a positive sprint but a negative life insurance policy for the deal. Second, deadline day energy: when contracts start looking at calendars, you know the transfer season has its own sense of humor.
