Getafe are growing increasingly frustrated with how Crystal Palace have handled striker Christantus Uche since his deadline-day move to Selhurst Park, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Spanish side reluctantly sanctioned Christantus Uche’s exit, pushing through a loan deal that could turn permanent for €21m if the Nigerian forward makes at least ten starts across all competitions.
But a month on, the 22-year-old has yet to be named in Palace’s starting XI and has managed just 51 minutes of football under Oliver Glasner.
That lack of involvement has raised alarm in Madrid.
Sources close to Getafe believe Palace may be deliberately managing Uche’s game time to avoid triggering the mandatory purchase clause, effectively using him as a short-term squad option before sending him back to Spain next summer.
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The move was controversial from the start.
Uche had made it clear he did not want to leave Getafe after only one season in La Liga, where he featured in 33 matches last term, scoring four times and assisting six.
The Super Eagles midfielder had already opened this campaign strongly, netting once and setting up another in the club’s first three league fixtures.
Still, Getafe insisted on the transfer, having already seen him reject a similar proposal from Wolves earlier in the summer.
Palace, though, have so far shown little faith.
Uche was restricted to cameo appearances against Sunderland, West Ham and Liverpool and was also handed a 45-minute run-out in the EFL Cup tie against Millwall. Beyond that, he has been left watching from the bench.
Getafe fear the pattern will not change. With the purchase clause linked directly to starts rather than overall appearances, they suspect Palace’s strategy is simple: avoid overusing the striker, escape the €21m obligation, and return him for free at season’s end.
That prospect has already sparked internal discussions at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. Club officials are weighing whether to formally raise their concerns with Palace in January if Uche’s exile continues.
To his credit, Uche has shown no sign of frustration and appears to be adapting well to life in England while getting to know his teammates better.
However, from being a trusted starter in Spain to an afterthought in England, Uche’s Premier League adventure risks becoming a wasted season unless Glasner reconsiders his approach.
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