Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta has asked a special request of the club’s supporters.
Emerging as somewhat of a cult-hero at Selhurst Park after crucial goals against Brighton and Millwall, the striker signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the club in January after Palace negotiated a cheaper fee with parent club Mainz following an initial loan move.
There had been an option to buy the forward for £13m included in the agreement struck last year but that was brought down after Mateta failed to make the requisite number of starts.
Of his seven goals in total for Palace since January 2021, three have been game-winning strikes and, for supporters, his celebration - the kicking of the corner flag - is becoming something of a trademark.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the 24-year-old explained the origins of the celebration: “When I was young I looked at the matches and videos on YouTube. For me it’s important to have your proper celebration. One day I looked at one game and saw a guy kick the corner flag.
“I was thinking: ‘I’m not sure,’ but I think it was IbrahimoviÄ. He kicked the corner flag one time and I thought I would do it. Before I was only looking at Zlatan IbrahimoviÄ, he was my guy every day [to watch].
“Before I broke the corner flag. When I was young I broke it and now I know where to kick to not break it.”
Mateta asked: “Can I ask something to the fans?
“When I hit the corner flag I want them to say ‘BOOM!’”
Palace will travel to Wembley on Sunday for an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Chelsea as Patrick Vieira looks to cap off a wonderful debut campaign as a Premier League manager by reaching a showpiece final.
