Christantus Uche’s summer switch to Crystal Palace is already drawing scrutiny in Spain, with questions emerging over the wisdom of the move as the young forward struggles to make an impression at Selhurst Park.
Both Estadio Deportivo and Marca have run stories on the situation, highlighting growing concern about how quickly Uche’s fortunes have declined since leaving Getafe.
According to Estadio Deportivo, Uche is “looking to regain prominence” after a rough start to life in England. Once a key figure at Getafe, he now finds himself turning out for Palace’s Under-21 side after making just two senior appearances — totalling only seven minutes of action. The plan had been for a gradual introduction to Premier League football, but his limited involvement has instead prompted manager Oliver Glasner to drop him down to the youth setup.
Frustration appears to be mounting for the 22-year-old, who recently changed his Instagram profile picture to an image of a switched-off light bulb — widely interpreted as a subtle message about his unhappiness with the current situation.
Getafe are reportedly uneasy too. The loan deal includes an obligation for Palace to make the transfer permanent if Uche features in ten matches — a milestone that, at present, seems highly unlikely.
Marca echo those concerns, noting that Uche has yet to “find his rhythm” in England. After one of the more dramatic transfer sagas of the summer, he now finds himself far removed from the Premier League dream he envisioned, playing instead in development matches.
The Spanish outlet also sheds light on the complex nature of the purchase clause. They claim Palace must pay €20 million once Uche has played ten games with at least 45 minutes each. However, reports in recent days have offered conflicting versions of that condition, with some suggesting it could take as many as 20 appearances.
In short, confusion surrounds the deal, and the general feeling in Spain is that what was once viewed as a promising move is quickly turning into a transfer misfire.