Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has stood by his choice to offload Cole Palmer to Chelsea, citing the player’s longstanding desire to leave the club as a key factor.
Palmer, who departed for £42.5m last September, had expressed his wish to depart for two years before sealing his move to the Blues.
Guardiola revealed, “In pre-season, I told him to stay because Riyad [Mahrez] had left, but he said, ‘No, I want to leave.'”
Despite Palmer’s subsequent success, including 20 Premier League goals, Guardiola reiterated the player’s persistent desire for a change.
“He was asking to leave for two seasons,” Guardiola emphasized. “I told him to stay, but he wanted to leave. What else could we do?”
Palmer’s stellar form, notably his recent four-goal haul against Everton, has prompted scrutiny of Guardiola’s decision-making. However, the manager maintains that given Palmer’s aspirations and limited opportunities at City, the move was in his best interest.
Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino expressed gratitude to City for facilitating Palmer’s transfer and highlighted the player’s eagerness to prove himself elsewhere.
While Palmer basks in his newfound success, Pochettino cautioned against the impact on his lifestyle and workload, urging careful management.
In light of Palmer’s remarkable rise, Guardiola’s stance underscores the complexities of nurturing talent amidst player ambitions and team dynamics.
