Cole Palmer reveals moment he decided to leave Man City for Chelsea but admits he never got to say a proper goodbye

COLE PALMER has revealed when he decided to leave Manchester City.

Palmer, 22, has been a revelation since joining Chelsea for £40million on deadline day of the 2023/24 summer transfer window.

Despite the club’s overall struggles in a huge transitional period, Palmer stood up to be counted and has scored a remarkable 32 goals in 57 games in all competitions.

However, Palmer’s original plan was not to leave City, who had nurtured him since the age of seven.

But speaking to GQ, Palmer admitted he knew he had to take the decision in order to further his career.

He said: “I wasn’t even gonna go [to] Chelsea. I got persuaded.” He then nodded to his manager when asked who persuaded him to move.

“I just knew I wasn’t going to play as much as I wanted to. Even when I was going to England [camps] with younger age groups, you had players there who were playing in the league every week.

“And you’re looking around thinking, I can play in the league. When you’re not playing, it’s annoying.”

Palmer admits he wanted to go on loan, but had his hand forced when he found out he was not going to play behind established stars even after Riyad Mahrez sealed a move to Saudi Arabia.

However, the fast nature of the deal meant Palmer was not able to say a proper goodbye, with a text message being his ultimate farewell to the club he had been with for 14 years.

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He added: “No – do you know what, I just wanted to go on loan…

“I remember training on a Wednesday at City in the afternoon, and the news was ‘they’re trying to agree a fee.’

“Every time the ball went out I’d ask the kit man or the doctor if they’ve agreed the fee yet.

“So I didn’t really get a chance to see many people and say I’m going. I just had to get my stuff.

“I messaged the group chat, said ‘Thanks and everything. I’m gone.’ That was it.”

On his meteoric rise to stardom, Palmer admitted he even “surprised” himself, although he recalls as a youngster how his father Jermaine told him to keep faith despite the midfielder’s own doubts during his development.

He said: “I’d see people saying, like, ‘He’s just in good form.’ Then I think it was after the first England camp where I went a bit quiet, and people were saying, ‘This was always going to happen.’

“But then I just picked up and went even better. Played Middlesbrough at home, played Everton, Manchester United at home, and I just kept scoring, scoring, scoring.

“I knew I could do it. But for it to happen so fast… I surprised myself, yeah…

“Maybe because I wasn’t the quickest when I was younger, I had to use body movement instead of speed.

“I remember I would say, ‘I want to be fast, I want to be stronger, bigger,’ because I was so small – like, just tiny.

“I would try and do something and I’d just get the ball took off me. I said, ‘Why am I like this?’ And my dad said: ‘Wait. You will take over everybody’.”

Palmer grew up in Wythenshawe, south of Manchester as a Red Devils fan.

Jermaine’s parents hail from Saint Kitts and Nevis, which is why Palmer wears the flag on his boots.

Palmer has said one of his first memories was of him and his father playing football together, and after his chip in the 6-2 thrashing over Wolves, he recalled how his father messaged him to reminisce.

He said: “He messaged me the other day, after I scored that chip versus Wolves, saying, ‘You remember practising chips in the park?’ But I actually do, to be fair.”

Palmer scored for England in the final of Euro 2024 against Spain, but he admitted the rush of the situation means he “doesn’t really remember it”.

Now a mainstay for the Three Lions, Palmer was called up for Lee Carsley’s final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over fully next year.

However, Palmer was one of eight stars to withdraw from the squad after suffering a knock in weeks prior to the camp that left him doubtful over his inclusion in the Arsenal clash.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk