Opinion of several doctors and an issue since 2019: Why Milan walked away from Mateta

Jean-Philippe Mateta was meant to be AC Milan’s statement winter signing, but everything unravelled over a few hours on deadline day.

Going into the final day of the window, several sources reported that a deal had been agreed between Milan and Crystal Palace for Mateta. It was expected that the striker would pass a medical and sign in an operation worth over €30m, but then things then hit the buffers.

Mateta’s medical: The reconstruction

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), several doctors voted against signing Mateta. Milan, having received a clear negative opinion, has thus chosen to send their staff back from London without Mateta.

He was the main target for the summer, but the possibility of bringing forward his arrival arose in the final hours of the winter transfer window, so much so that the club’s doctors booked a last-minute flight to London.

There, they examined the striker’s knee, revealing a clear cartilage problem. This issue will require surgery either immediately, with a recovery period of three to four months, or later on, thus managing the second half of the season but with the risk of further compromising the joint’s stability.

If the operation is postponed until the summer, it will be even more invasive and require a much longer recovery time. Mateta’s injury dates back to late November, following a collision impact, but he has kept on playing.

In fact, the Frenchman has played in all 23 league games of the season, missing only the 24th game against Nottingham Forest two days ago due to transfer reasons. Or at least that’s what the Eagles implied, because Palace made no official reference to any physical issues.

However, Milan wanted to see the situation more clearly, given that the medical reports received during negotiations weren’t entirely convincing. Hence the trip of the Rossoneri doctors and the verdict that put a stop to a potential €35m deal. They will not go back in, either.

Mazzoni’s say

MilanNews meanwhile confirm that Rossoneri management had been following the Frenchman for some time and had identified him as the right player to strengthen their attack for next season, also in line with the coach’s tactical ideas.

Once all agreements were reached, Milan had the player undergo a medical in London, as mentioned above. The investment would have been significant, and Milan rightly wanted to know exactly what they were buying.

On Monday morning, a second round of in-depth medical tests took place. In-depth discussions took place in the presence of Dr. Mazzoni, who deduced that the striker can continue playing on it, grit his teeth and continue with the injections, but with the risk of worsening the situation. Or, he can undergo surgery to permanently resolve the issue and remain sidelined for a few months.

It must be said that Mateta has continued to play despite his physical concerns, but Milan – as they did this summer with Victor Boniface and Marc Pubill – have chosen to pull out of the deal. This decision confirms the club’s stance: no major investment without complete fitness guarantees.

Finally, Tuttosport (via MilanNews) actually report that Mateta’s knee problem first emerged in 2019 and was being addressed with short-term fixes. Dr. Mazzoni’s decision proved crucial, as he could not possibly give approval to such an investment on a player in such a delicate physical state.

So, Massimiliano Allegri arrives at the season’s crucial moment with a limited attack, while Milan have once again postponed that big signing they need when it comes to the future of the No.9 position.