Why Matheus Franca is not playing at Crystal Palace
The curious case of Matheus Franca has puzzled many at Crystal Palace – and beyond – this season.
Much was expected of the Brazil Under-20 international following his £26m move from Flamengo in August, given his standout efforts at Flamengo and also the size of his transfer fee.
However, the 19-year-old has hardly featured under Roy Hodgson since recovering from a back injury towards the end of October, making just two Premier League appearances which total 31 minutes.
So, why is Matheus Franca not playing at Crystal Palace? Let’s take a look…
Well – according to The Athletic – the South American was signed with the expectation that he could contribute immediately, rather than be viewed as a long term project requiring patience.
Therefore, you would expect France to have played more often than he has.
However – by the sounds of it – Hodgson simply prefers a unit of experienced professionals who play for the team, rather than young individualists.
The Athletic explained Franca’s absence by writing: “Hodgson prefers players who fit into his system, which is about collective responsibility far more than individual freedom. That inevitably leads to trusting experience over youth. His job is to keep Palace in the Premier League for next season, not to help them build for the future in any other sense.”
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In our view, at least, this suggests that Franca was signed without the 76-year-old’s permission.
Many supporters feared a repeat of the Max Meyer situation when the Brazilian arrived in SE25 – Hodgson famously ignored the talented German for effectively the entire time he was at Selhurst Park.
That now appears to be the reality – unless the teenager can showcase something special in training and win over the man from Croydon.
Matheus Franca now has a chance at Crystal Palace
Interestingly, The Athletic add that Franca is viewed as someone who operates most effectively in a central No.10 role – rather than on the wings, where many expected him to replace Wilfried Zaha.
Therefore – with Ebere Eze now injured – Hodgson must use the Crystal Palace No.11 where the England international tends to be deployed, just behind the striker.
If Franca – who had a Ballon d’Or clause placed in his contract – still cannot get a chance in Eze’s absence, alarm bells will surely start to ring at Selhurst Park.
