Before Cole Palmer moved to Chelsea for £40 million, Pep Guardiola sent him a harsh and direct warning.
Cole Palmer received a harsh seven-word message from Pep Guardiola before his unexpected £40 million transfer to Chelsea.
Palmer played 25 games across all competitions for the City Blues last season, where he rose through the ranks.
However, after scoring in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup finals, the 21-year-old was itching for more playing time coming into the current campaign.
Palmer signed a seven-year contract with Chelsea on deadline day and has excelled at Stamford Bridge. With his incredible four-goal performance against Everton on Monday, he now has 23 goals.
Palmer, who has emerged as Chelsea’s talisman, appears certain to be included in Gareth Southgate’s England side for Euro 2024.
The Englishman claims that he didn’t push to leave City and would have rather moved away on loan.
Cole, however, moved on permanently because Guardiola would not give him that choice.
“Initially I didn’t want to leave” he said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
“I said I would go on loan and play for a year so I was ready for first team football more because I didn’t play a lot of minutes [last season].
“But then Pep said ‘you’re either staying or you’re getting sold’ and, so yeah, I just got sold.
“I was a bit confused why they wouldn’t let me go on loan but [then] I said I wanted to go to Chelsea and I’m glad it’s turned out the way it has.”
In response, Guardiola stated in February that he “understood” Palmer’s request for further playing time but named the elite players Palmer had been up against.
Speaking in a press conference, Guardiola said: “If Palmer had the minutes I gave to Phil [Foden] from the beginning, Cole Palmer would be here – but I didn’t give them to him.
“That is my responsibility. Why? Because of Bernardo [Silva], Riyad [Mahrez], Phil. In that moment, I chose the other ones.”
When City and Chelsea square off in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday, Palmer will face his old team for the third time.
