Gatwick Airport, 2:15 a.m., Friday, August 29. Crystal Palace’s squad shuffles through passport control, exhausted after a whirlwind trip to Frederikstad, Sweden.
Their reward? A hard-fought 1-0 aggregate victory securing a spot in the Europa Conference League. B
ut right now, all anyone wants is sleep.
Among them is the first-team squad, already bracing for another Premier League clash at Villa Park on Sunday.
Normally, in these situations, the unwritten football rule of “players first” kicks in, and the team edges to the front of the queue to maximize recovery. But not everyone follows the script.
Marc Guehi Leads by Example
Palace captain Marc Guehi, however, is different. The 24-year-old, who had been pivotal in Sweden and across the season, refused to cut in line.
Fresh from a collapsed transfer move to Liverpool just the day before, Guehi, a pastor’s son known for his faith and humility, treated his place in line as final—no preferential treatment needed.
Though brief, this airport moment revealed a lot about Guehi’s character.
Setbacks don’t shake him; he believes outcomes are in God’s hands.
For Palace chairman Steve Parish, seeing this kind of leadership is reassuring—the team’s captain will maintain focus, no matter the distractions.
The Transfer Saga: Setting the Scene
Parish had been upfront from the start. A year ago, when Newcastle United showed interest, the message was clear: £70 million or nothing.
Subsequent negotiations, filled with creative proposals from Newcastle’s then-sporting director Paul Mitchell, failed to meet the valuation. Guehi stayed.
Fast-forward a year: Guehi still had two years on his contract, another strong season behind him, and the club now faced European competition.
Parish had to balance keeping a top talent with ensuring manager Oliver Glasner had the squad strength to compete in Europe.
European Uncertainty and Squad Planning
The summer had been tricky. Palace didn’t know which European competition they would play in until UEFA’s appeal decision on August 11.
Uncertainty around Europa League versus Conference League participation complicated transfer talks, especially for potential defensive reinforcements.
Glasner had made it clear: Palace needed two centre-backs.
One experienced Premier League player to slot straight in, and one young talent to develop.
They secured the latter with France Under-20 Jaydee Canvot from Toulouse for £20 million.
Igor Julio, a Brazilian defender with Premier League experience, was set to fill the experienced role via a season-long loan from Brighton.
The Collapse of the Julio Deal
The Julio move seemed perfect. Liverpool submitted a £35 million bid for Guehi, personal terms were agreed, and the Premier League paperwork was filed.
But West Ham intervened, luring Julio with a connection to manager Graham Potter and potentially better terms. Suddenly, the loan fell through.
Glasner, who hadn’t threatened to resign, had made his priorities clear: Guehi was essential, and no centre-back replacement meant the deal could not proceed.
By 7:30 p.m., Parish pulled the plug, leaving Guehi at Palace for now.
Guehi’s Loyalty and Professionalism
Throughout the saga, Guehi remained professional and dignified, contrasting with other players, such as Alexander Isak, who left for Liverpool.
Parish can rest assured there won’t be a drop in performance or a tantrum from his captain.
However, patience is being tested. Guehi even had to be pulled from a medical scan to hear the news the transfer had collapsed.
The missed opportunity to play Champions League football will linger in his mind, especially in a World Cup year.
Still, he’s unlikely to refuse to play for a club he loves, even amid understandable frustration.
The Road Ahead for Guehi
Looking forward, Guehi can negotiate with European clubs from January 1, and as a free agent, he’ll likely have his pick of Champions League qualifiers.
A move could significantly increase his salary, with a weekly £250,000 figure entirely realistic.
At only 25 next year, he’s entering his prime years.
For Parish, the decision to halt the £35 million move was tough but necessary.
With one of the club’s strongest squads ever and arguably the best manager in its history, Palace took a calculated gamble—and one they believe is worth it.