Atlético in the race for Mateta

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Atletico Madrid Malaga

19/08/26 21:00:00

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The Atlético de Madrid has burst into the race for the signing of Jean-Philippe Mateta, the French international striker from Crystal Palace who has become a major market alternative for the red-and-white attack. The Frenchman is the new request of Cholo Simeone to boost his rotation.

The confirmed absence of Antoine Griezmann, uncertainty about the continuity of Alexander Sorloth, and the protracted saga of Julián Álvarez force the Madrid sports management to restructure their attacking line immediately. The London club has set the price for their striker at around 25 million pounds (30 million euros) since he is entering the final year of his contract, a real market opportunity that European giants like Manchester United and Juventus are also bidding for.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, the new target of Atlético de Madrid

The Atlético technical secretariat acknowledges that the offensive front will undergo a total metamorphosis before the end of this summer transfer window. Given the financial difficulties involved in top priorities like Viktor Gyokeres or Mikel Oyarzabal, the French forward emerges as an economical and immediately effective solution.

The imposing 29-year-old footballer recently had a standout season in England, scoring 16 goals in 50 official matches. His collective contribution was crucial for the Eagles, with a historic goal even in the grand final of the UEFA Conference League, which gave Selhurst Park its first European title.

The temporary block by Crystal Palace pressuring Atlético de Madrid

The contractual factor is the driving force behind this commercial operation in the Premier League, as the center forward's contract expires definitively on June 30, 2027. This temporal proximity compels the British club to negotiate a sale at a lower price before risking losing him completely for free starting next January.

There has been a significant reduction in the valuation of the striker compared to discussions just five months ago. During the last winter transfer window, AC Milan had agreed to a fee of 30 million pounds, and the player even passed the medical tests, but the Italians ultimately discarded the deal.

Similarly, Nottingham Forest tabled a formal offer of 35 million pounds, which was categorically rejected as they are a direct competitor in the lower reaches of the English table. The situation in July 2026 is very different, with the transfer cost now set at an accessible 25 million pounds.

Jean-Philippe Mateta's dilemma regarding the renewal offer until 2030

However, Selhurst Park is not definitively backing down and has presented a counter-contract offer to the player. On July 15, it was officially announced that the London board has offered a substantial contract extension linking his institutional future until 2030.

If he signs this new long-term document, the scenario for continental suitors would change entirely. With four more guaranteed seasons in their balance, Crystal Palace would regain full control and drastically increase the price tag for the French striker.

This circumstance forces the Atlético de Madrid's recruitment officials to act swiftly before the renewal shifts the power back to the English board. The fierce competition posed by Juventus and Manchester United necessitates speeding up formal contacts to prevent the 1.92-meter giant from ending up in Turin or Old Trafford.

In Diego Pablo Simeone's tactical notebook, the characteristics of this towering forward fit perfectly as a positional reference in the box, providing an ideal profile to occupy rival center-backs and protect the ball with his back to goal. This physical presence would be an ideal complement to the mobility between the lines offered by Julián Álvarez.

The Atlético de Madrid's sports commission will accelerate negotiations in the coming days to secure what appears to be one of the great opportunities of this transfer market. Securing the services of Jean-Philippe Mateta will equip the red-and-white team with the firepower needed to compensate for Griezmann's departure and consolidate a project at Atlético de Madrid designed to compete for all titles this season.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Atlético, en la puja por Mateta