Jean-Philippe Mateta appears to be drawing a line under his failed move crystal Palace at AC Milan, despite reports that he could follow Oliver Glasner to the club.
Milan news report The Crystal Palace striker comments today on his World Cup preparations with France.
Crystal Palace transfer talks return after failed move to Milan
He was close to joining Milan in a big move in the January transfer window, before his knee problem was revealed during a medical Saw the transfer collapse.
He returned to Crystal Palace and spent 38 days on the sidelines before returning at the end of the season and scoring the winning goal in the Europa Conference League Final.
Now reports are once again linking him with Milan. Oliver Glasner is the current favorite to take charge of the Italian team this summer. And belief is that a move for Jean-Philippe Mateta could be revived.
But when asked about the failed move to Milan, the striker did not sound like a player still haunted by what could have been.
"That was a strange period for me and not easy by any means," he said.
"There was a chance to go to Milan, but that's in the past now, and I don't know what would have happened if I had gone to Italy."
Crystal Palace striker focuses on France after injury setback
Instead, Jean-Philippe Mateta's immediate attention is elsewhere. Rather than use the negotiations to reopen the Milan talks, he insists that his only interest is in France. He wanted to focus on hard work to reach this point.
"Today I am here with France and my only focus is on the national team," he said.
"After the injury, the only thing on my mind was my return date: I realized that I would have a chance to be included in the World Cup squad by manager Deschamps and I worked hard to prepare. In the end, I achieved it and I'm happy."
The striker was also keen to credit Crystal Palace for the development that has brought him to this point.
He has been an undisputed star for the Eagles, especially under Glasner, under whom he scored 49 goals in 109 games.
"I have to thank Crystal Palace. In my early years there, I didn't perform consistently well because I wasn't getting much playing time. Whereas later on I played a lot more and that allowed me to develop and gain confidence," he concluded.
