For more than a year now, the career of young Cole Palmer has completely changed. Considered one of Manchester City’s big hopes, the England international left Pep Guardiola’s training last summer to join Chelsea. A choice which may have been surprising at the time as the Spanish technician seemed to really appreciate his player who had also won the UEFA Super Cup title by scoring in the final (he had also scored in the Community Shield final). But not enough to convince his management to keep him at all costs.
A departure without saying goodbye
As a result, it was Chelsea who rubbed their hands by recovering the England international who completely exploded under his new colors. Author of a crazy season with 27 goals and 15 assists in 48 matches, the attacking midfielder logically won the trophy for best player in the Premier League. This season, the player, bought for 47 million by the Blues, started on the same basis with already 7 goals and 5 assists in 11 matches. In an interview given to GQCole Palmer also spoke about this famous summer of 2023 which changed his career with this transfer to Chelsea.
“I remember training on a Wednesday afternoon at City, and the information during training was ‘they’re trying to agree on an amount’. Every time the ball went out, I asked the equipment manager or the doctor if they finally came to an agreement. So I didn’t really get a chance to see a lot of people and say I was going to Chelsea. I just had to get my stuff” said Cole Palmer who seemed to regret the way this transfer was completed.
A Euro on the bench difficult to digest
“It’s the commercial reality of high-level football: no goodbyes, except what can be said by SMS. I sent a message to the chat group, I said, “Thanks for everything. I’m leaving.” That’s all”explained the England international. A departure that was not easy to digest for the main player who then quickly bounced back to become the star of Chelsea. But his status as the best player in the Premier League did not allow him to shake up the hierarchy in the selection since he spent the entire Euro on the bench. A choice by Gareth Southgate singled out and even incomprehensible to many football observers, including the player himself.
“It was frustrating in England, to be honest. I’m not saying the players aren’t good. But after the season I had, the form I had, everything I did was based on my performances, so I didn’t play the first two games even when the team was in difficulty, that’s was a bit like, “why?”. Do you see what I mean? If you put me in the third game and I don’t do anything, then I can’t really say anything. I just had to try to make my way through it. I remember Watkins came on (in the final) and I thought, ‘Why not me?’ »he explained. Despite his good starts and his goal in the final, Palmer was largely underused by his coach during the competition. To the great regret of English fans…
