Oliver Glasner Clears Air on Rift With Super Eagles Midfielder Christantus Uche

Posted : 08 May 2026

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has addressed the growing tension between himself and Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche. The 22-year-old Super Eagles player recently expressed frustration over his limited role at Selhurst Park. Uche suggested in a candid interview that his relationship with the manager had collapsed. He specifically hinted that he felt the Austrian coach no longer liked or trusted him.

Glasner used a pre-match press conference ahead of the UEFA Conference League semi-final to clarify the situation. He insisted that the decision to sideline Uche was purely tactical rather than personal. The manager revealed that the midfielder was not registered for the knockout stages of the European competition. This choice was made due to strict UEFA registration limits and the arrival of new signings.

The Eagles boss explained that injury uncertainties forced his hand during the January window. He expected striker Eddie Nketiah to return from injury much sooner than he did. Consequently, Palace prioritized other attacking options like Jørgen Strand Larsen and Brennan Johnson. Glasner admitted that he might have kept Uche in the European squad if he had known Nketiah would remain sidelined.

Uche has endured a difficult season in London after joining on loan from Spanish side Getafe CF. Despite making 22 appearances across all competitions, he has failed to secure a single Premier League start. Most of his outings have come as late substitute appearances. Statistically, he has played only 159 minutes in the league this term. This lack of involvement means the clause for a permanent move will likely not be triggered.

Reports indicate that Crystal Palace would have paid €20 million to keep Uche permanently if he had started 10 league games. Since that target is now impossible to reach, he is expected to return to Getafe this summer. However, several other Premier League clubs like Everton and Newcastle are reportedly monitoring his situation. Italian giants AC Milan are also linked with a potential move for the talented Nigerian.

Crystal Palace recently secured a 2-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in their European semi-final first leg. While the team finds success on the pitch, managing squad harmony remains a challenge for Glasner. He emphasized that the club continues to offer Uche support but noted that communication must work both ways. The midfielder’s time in South London appears to be nearing an end as the season concludes.

Oliver Glasner Clears Air on Rift With Super Eagles Midfielder Christantus Uche

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