“It’s annoying” – Cole Palmer reveals truth behind Manchester City exit for Chelsea | OneFootball

Former Manchester City prospect and now Premier League superstar Cole Palmer has revealed the truth behind his exit for Chelsea from the Etihad Stadium in 2023.

After 13 years developing across Manchester City’s age groups and breaking into Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad during the tail-end of his time with the club, a decision was made to sanction a sale to West London.

On transfer deadline day of the 2023 summer market, it was announced that Cole Palmer had signed for Chelsea on a seven-year contract, with the option of a further year for an initial transfer fee reported to be in the region of £40 million, rising by £2.5 million in add-ons.

Palmer has gone on to be worth every single invested in him by the London club, scoring a remarkable 32 goals and providing a further 20 assists in just 58 cross-competition appearances under Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca thus far.

Speaking to British GQ this week as part of a wide-ranging interview alongside Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, Palmer revealed that frustrations over playing time were at the centre of his decision to ultimately leave the Etihad Stadium.

“I wasn’t even gonna go [to] Chelsea. I got persuaded,” revealed Palmer, before indicating that the persuasion had centred from his manager.

“I just knew I wasn’t going to play as much as I wanted to,” the England international reflected upon his spell with Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad at Manchester City.

He continued, “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.”

Pep Guardiola had revealed during a press conference amid Palmer’s success with Chelsea that the player had been agitating for a move away from Manchester City for over two years, to which Palmer himself responded, “No – do you know what, I just wanted to go on loan.”

Reflecting on the process to leave Manchester City and the saga that had centred around his future during the summer market of 2023, Cole Palmer explained, “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.”

Some within Manchester City had originally tipped Palmer to become the long-term replacement for Riyad Mahrez, however it would be the Algerian that would prove to block the Englishman by extending his top-level standards deeper into his Etihad career.

The Premier League champions have in-time moved to replace Mahrez despite not being able to do so through Palmer, recruiting Brazil international Savinho from ESTAC Troyes in a £31.5 million agreement and the 20-year-old himself admitting to be inspired by Mahrez.