'That was not my intention' - unexpected Cole Palmer call sparked incredible Chelsea season

Cole Palmer admitted his preference wasn’t to leave Manchester City in the summer but for being confronted with an ultimatum by the club.

Palmer had just scored in the UEFA Super Cup, lifting the trophy after a penalty shoot-out win over Sevilla. He had also been handed just 10 minutes in the Premier League opener against Burnley and 26 in the Community Shield final versus Arsenal, in which he also found the net.

He had made 25 appearances under Pep Guardiola last season, of which just seven were starts. The exit of Riyad Mahrez had raised hopes of gaining more game time this season but the arrival of Jeremy Doku caused Palmer to consider his next steps.

«My thing was to never leave City,» he told Sky Sports in January. «That was not my intention. I wanted to go on loan for a year, come back and be ready for the first team.

»But they said I couldn't go on loan, either stay or you get sold. So then, Chelsea rang me. I said I wanted to go to Chelsea and I'm really happy to be here. I'm very glad I made the decision to come here."

Even Mauricio Pochettino has indicated he did not expect deadline-day recruit Palmer to reach the levels he has done at Stamford Bridge. He is now joint top of the Premier League scorers chart after his four-goal haul against Everton on Monday, level with former Man City teammate Erling Haaland on 20 goals.

Since his move to Chelsea, Palmer has earned his first two senior England caps and is now a certainty for Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, barring injury. His 38 goal contributions this season are more than any Man City player so far and in his next four games will surpass the number of senior outings he was given at the Etihad Stadium.

Every word Mauricio Pochettino said on Chelsea penalty row,