Mateta claims final year of Palace deal is invalid

Mateta claims the final year of his Crystal Palace contract is invalid, adding another twist to what has been a rollercoaster stint for the Frenchman at the club. The 29‑year‑old has become a cult figure at the Eagles, famed for his trademark celebration in which he kicks the country emblem to shouts of “boom” from supporters. He also scored the winning goal in the last match as Palace won the Conference League last season. It has not been smooth sailing for Mateta. After a slow start to his Palace career, his trajectory improved under the guidance of former coach Glasner. Under the Austrian, Mateta emerged as one of the most reliable strikers in the Premier League, netting 46 goals in 109 appearances across all competitions. That form attracted interest from clubs across Europe and led to the current contract standoff between the player and the club. Mateta has repeatedly expressed his ambition to play for elite‑level sides, even during early periods at Palace when his output seemed unlikely to earn such