If Pep Guardiola speaks highly of you, that means you are a good footballer – period. But what happens when you are on the best team in the world (arguably) and aren’t getting any playing time? Do you stay and wait your turn, or do you make a proactive move for your career? One player took such a risk with his move to Chelsea.
The choice is extremely hard, with some players taking a risk and staying at a club with limited minutes to earn trophies and ‘earn’ their keep.
And some players, like this ex-Manchester City midfielder, decide to go elsewhere. And, sometimes, when you go elsewhere, you thrive.
Ex-Man City Youngster Now Thriving at Chelsea FC
HAT-TRICK HERO. COLE PALMER.
🔵 3-0 🍬 [28] #CFC | #CheEve pic.twitter.com/ToKeETCRT8
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 15, 2024
Chelsea FC are having a fair Premier League season. Although Pochettino would have hoped they could have been in the top three and contending for the coveted PL title, it would be unfair to say that they have had a ‘bad’ season. And one key to their success is a young midfielder, Cole Palmer.
Palmer is one of the hottest young commodities in football at the moment. He is in contention for the Golden Boot in the Premier League, up against big names like Haaland and Mo Salah, who have topped the scoring charts for years. So far this season, he has had an incredible 25 goals – eleven of which he scored in just six appearances.
Guardiola might lament letting Palmer leave Manchester City, but he can’t deny the young player’s quality.
‘He’s an exceptional player…we know how he’s proving himself, but he has had a lot of minutes. I didn’t give him the minutes when maybe he deserved it. He wanted the minutes he now has at Chelsea. I understand completely. I’m happy for him because he’s a lovely guy…he’s playing good. He’s an incredible threat.’
Such praise from one of the top managers in football must be nice for Palmer, who is enacting revenge on his former club by scoring dozens of goals this year.
Did Pep Ask Palmer to Leave?
In short, no. Palmer had discussed his playing time with Pep throughout his time at City, hoping to get more regular time as he got older.
Palmer began his youth career in the Manchester City academy system, progressing from a U8 level all the way through the U18s team in the 2019-2020 season. His stand-out performances and leadership qualities caught the eye of the senior team who signed him for the 2020 season. He debuted for the first-team squad in September 2020 in a 3-0 win against Burnley.
After his initial debut, he made 18 more appearances for Pep’s side from 2020-2023. However, 19 appearances in three seasons wasn’t enough for Palmer, who wanted more regular English Premier League experience.
Therefore, in September 2023, Palmer signed an incredible contract for a whopping seven years at nearby Chelsea. For a 40 million pound transfer fee, he made the switch to the Blues and immediately made an impact for Chelsea, scoring just one month after switching sides.
But did Guardiola ask Palmer to leave Manchester City to free up space for someone else? No – it was Palmer’s decision to part ways.
‘He was asking for two seasons to leave. I said ‘No, stay.’ At the end, he said, ‘No, I want to leave.’ What can we do? I said in pre-season, ‘Stay because Riyad has gone. He said, ‘No, I want to leave.’ After two seasons, what can you say? So go there. Playing at that level is exceptional.’
It seems as though Palmer may have been in Pep’s plans for this year’s midfield, but he took matters into his own hands. And it has worked quite well.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
