Crystal Palace surprised many people with the transfer window they had back in the summer of 2016.
In the July of that year, they managed to land Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in a deal that, unsurprisingly, left supporters delighted.
https://twitter.com/Beniesta_/status/748837818701586432
Delighted to see some business being done early…. and it’s still only the 1st July! #cpfc
— Bob White (@Bacoletplayer) July 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/FamousCPFC/status/748839782818676736
https://twitter.com/purnelldarren/status/748970984200339456
. Another good day to be a palace fan. C O Y P. Eagles forever. #cpfc
— Ian Blackman (@blackman204) July 1, 2016
We will be a great side next year with all these great signings great news!!!
— FortLeaks (@ItsMeVexYT) July 1, 2016
give us the title
— Junior (@cpfcjunior_) July 1, 2016
And the Selhurst Park faithful were not the only ones left feeling jubilant over Mandanda’s signing with chairman Steve Parish having also expressed his satisfaction with the capture of the 33-year-old.
“I’m delighted that we have been able to bring Steve into the Club. He brings a wealth of experience at both club and international level to us, and boasts a proven track record when it comes to winning trophies,” Parish told the club’s official website upon Mandanda’s arrival.
“I’m sure the Palace fans will enjoy watching him in action for us over the next few years,” the Crystal Palace president added.
In the end, though, that proved to be far from the case with Mandanda quickly returning to Marseille, making his initial transfer to Crystal Palace a waste of everyone’s time.
The France international made little impact in his first and only season at Selhurst Park, missing chunks of the Eagles’ 2016/17 Premier League campaign due to injury, much to the disappointment of fans.
Mandanda was one of the leading shot-stoppers in Ligue 1 with Marseille; he could have brought so much to Crystal Palace between the sticks if things had panned out differently.
