Pierre Sage dampens Wilfried Zaha return talk as Crystal Palace legend trains

Pierre Sage has played down the prospect of Wilfried Zaha rejoining Crystal Palace, despite the club legend training with the squad. According to The Standard, a reunion appears unlikely.

Zaha, 33, is seeking a deal ahead of the new Premier League season and hopes to impress the new head coach, who succeeded Oliver Glasner.

He left Palace in 2023 to join Galatasaray in Türkiye for Champions League football, and scored at Old Trafford in a 3-2 group-stage win over Manchester United. A loan to Lyon followed in 2024, cancelled in January 2025.

An 18-month loan to MLS side Charlotte FC came next. He returned to Gala this summer and was released when his contract expired.

Before the opening-day trip to Everton, Sage said he welcomed Zaha’s connection with the club and supporters but did not expect him to stay.

Palace have been active in the window, losing Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea. Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu have arrived on free transfers, and Dwight McNeil joined from Everton, with Brennan Johnson moving to Merseyside in a swap.

Young wing-backs Anan Khalaili and Zavier Gozo have signed from Union Saint-Gilloise and Real Salt Lake, while Evann Guessand has extended his loan from Aston Villa as Sage continues his rebuild.

Source: The Standard

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