AC Milan’s medicals strike again: Mateta latest to miss out

The January transfer window gave us a repeat of a pattern we have become familiar with in recent years: a player failing AC Milan medicals.

In the winter of 2026, Jean-Philippe Mateta is the latest ‘victim’ in the list of players who have been reported over the years to have failed the physical part of their transfer with the Rossoneri.

The France international, who plies his trade as a striker for Premier League side Crystal Palace, had put all on the line when he left for Italy. He had told the club he wanted a move away from Selhurst Park and would not be extending his stay beyond the end of his contract in 2027.

When he was told he could only leave if the Eagles found a replacement for him, Mateta would have none of it. He took to Instagram and posted an emoji, interpreted to signal his frustration with the club’s stance.

His surge in form in the past season helped Crystal Palace win the FA Cup, and was rewarded with a maiden call-up to the France national team. Making three appearances for Les Bleus, he recorded two goals, and was a nightmare for opposing defenders while on club duties.

Nottingham Forest were interested in his services, Serie A giants Juventus were pushing, but the French striker’s dream was the San Siro.

It was a tense situation that saw him omitted from the squad at some point, with coach Oliver Glasner explaining the striker was not “in the right frame of mind.”

AC Milan came shortly after, put in a £30 million bid, reached agreements, and when it looked like Mateta was about to land his desired move, the deal was called off as he failed the medical.

BBC Sport reports that Crystal Palace had disclosed that the former Olympic silver medallist had a knee issue during negotiations.

The 28-year-old reportedly ruptured his meniscus in 2019 while at Mainz. He underwent surgery that year, and was sidelined for six months.

This means Mateta would have to go under the knife for the deal to AC Milan, but the Rossoneri decided against it. His dream ended and Crystal Palace missed out on cashing out on their in-form striker, having forked out £48 million for Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves.

It was a heartbreaking moment for the Frenchman who was contemplating playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, looking to impress Didier Deschamps.

In response, fans being fans, there are currently talks of how to “perfectly troll” him in south London.

Mateta is one of many

Mateta is not the only player who has failed AC Milan medicals in recent years. In August 2025, Nigeria international Victor Boniface was sent back to Germany after failing the club’s medical tests.

The team’s medical examinations in Milan reportedly identified scar tissue and structural instability in his right knee, as a result of previous ACL injuries.

And for that, even when there was initial optimism, the 24-year-old was deemed to have failed the medical assessment.

Another case, perhaps ridiculous on the surface, is that of Porto defender Aly Cissokho who failed a Milan medical because of a teeth issue that was flagged as potentially linked to spinal problems.

In what could have been a straightforward deal, Milan tried to renegotiate based on the concern, but the deal fell apart.

The Italian giants always have their reasons, though. In the instant case, they believe the issue with the defender’s teeth could affect his posture in the future.

But then, Boniface would later be sidelined for the remainder of the season after joining Werder Bremen on a season-long loan from his parent club Bayer Leverkusen. And Mateta might be going for surgery which could potentially rule him out for the season.

Elite clubs can be thorough with medicals, which is understandable, but AC Milan has had a spate of recent high-profile medical collapses that draw attention.

If there were a ranking, the club would be first in the list of those places where players often fail medicals.  This is especially given that theirs have happened in successive windows.

With reasons, it would be unfair to accuse the club of being too cautious, but there is probably a reason why there is a rumour of an ongoing discussion among agents about the Rossoneri as a potential destination.

Whether that discussion grows into something more concrete remains to be seen, but the recent history is hard to ignore. Medical failures can happen anywhere, and caution is part of elite recruitment, yet when they occur this often and in such close succession, perception starts to form its own reality.

For AC Milan, the challenge may no longer be about justifying each decision in isolation, but managing the broader reputation that now follows them into every negotiation.