Cole Palmer: ‘I never wanted to leave Manchester City!’

In a surprising revelation, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has disclosed that his departure from Manchester City to Chelsea last summer was never intended to be permanent. The 21-year-old, who secured a move to the Blues for £42 million ($53m), expressed his desire for a loan move instead, aiming to return stronger and break into Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup.

Palmer, now a regular starter under Mauricio Pochettino, clarified his initial plan in an interview with Sky Sports, stating, “My thing was to never leave City. That was not my intention. I wanted to go on loan for a year, come back and be ready for the first team.” However, Manchester City presented him with a tough ultimatum – either stay or be sold. In light of this, Chelsea stepped in, and Palmer is content with his decision, affirming, “I’m very glad I made the decision to come here.”

Since joining Chelsea, Palmer’s impact has been substantial. Having featured in 16 out of 17 Premier League matches, he boasts an impressive record of eight goals and four assists. His stellar performances earned him a call-up to the England national team for the Euro 2024 qualifiers in November.

Looking ahead, after contributing to Chelsea’s 4-0 victory over Preston North End in the FA Cup third round, Palmer is set to feature in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough on Tuesday. His journey from uncertain transfer circumstances to a key player for the London club continues to unfold, leaving fans eager to witness more from this talented young player.