Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said it was his desire to keep Cole Palmer at the Etihad Stadium, but wouldn’t retain him against his wish to leave.
Since joining Chelsea on deadline day last September, Palmer has been a hit scoring 20 goals in his first season for the Blues and he is contesting for the Golden Boot Award with Man City striker Erling Haaland. He is tipped to win the PFA Player of the Year award and also make England manager Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.
“In pre-season I said stay because Riyad [Mahrez] has gone and he said ‘no, I want to leave’,” said Guardiola.
“After two seasons, what could I say?
“He was asking for two seasons to leave, I said ‘no, stay’. What could we do?”
“I said many times, I didn’t give him the minutes that he maybe deserved and wanted, the minutes he now has at Chelsea,” he said.
“I understand that completely. I am happy for him because he is a lovely guy. He is playing well and is an incredible threat.”
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino says he thanks City for allowing Palmer “the opportunity to him to move to another club” and the forward is also grateful to his former club.
“He always talks very highly about them and Pep,” said Pochettino.
“I think he understood perfectly that maybe for different reasons he wanted to prove himself in another club.”
Palmer and Chelsea are heading to Manchester City on Saturday, for FA Cup tie that represents their only chance of winning a silverware this season. With BBC reports
Palmer and coach Pochettino