The Rossoneri's interest in the 28-year-old Frenchman had been well-documented before a late-stage medical complication in the winter window ended the move. Palace had been prepared to sell, but a knee issue identified during the medical examination killed the deal.
That setback now looks like fortune deferred.
Mateta went on to deliver one of the most significant individual seasons in Crystal Palace's history. He scored 12 Premier League goals, helping the south London club finish their campaign, but it was his contribution in European competition that reframed the story.
In the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano, Mateta forced in a rebound early in the second half to give Palace a 1-0 victory. It was the decisive goal in the club's first European title. His place in Didier Deschamps' France squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup followed within days.
Italian outlets Tuttosport and Il Tirreno report that conversations between Milan and Palace have been reactivated ahead of the summer window. With Mateta's knee now passing medical assessments without concern, the physical obstacle that blocked January's deal has been removed.
The financial picture has shifted too. The fee demanded by Palace is expected to fall below the €35 million mooted last winter. Mateta is contracted in London until June 2027, giving Crystal Palace limited leverage.
The Mateta move forms part of a broader reconstruction at San Siro. Milan dismissed Massimiliano Allegri at the end of last season and are closing in on the appointment of Austrian manager Oliver Glasner, who led Crystal Palace to the Conference League title, the FA Cup and the Community Shield during his time at Selhurst Park.
There is a certain irony in Glasner potentially inheriting a striker whose winner he just watched from the other technical area.
The pieces are moving quickly. If Glasner arrives, Mateta could follow him to Milan — the striker the Rossoneri missed in January arriving through the front door in June.