Cole Palmer says he was desperate to stay at Manchester City before he opted to join Premier League rivals Chelsea two years ago.

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• Palmer has flourished since leaving Man City
• Chelsea star didn't want to move away from hometown
• Has no idea what he would do outside of football

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Palmer came through the City youth academy and made over 40 senior appearances over four seasons before he accepted the offer to join Chelsea in the summer of 2023 as he sought regular first-team football in the Premier League.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The attacking midfielder has blossomed into one of the English top-flight's best players since then, scoring 39 times and providing 21 assists in all competitions. However, the 22-year-old has admitted that he initially hoped to stay in his hometown instead of making the move to the English capital.

• WHAT PALMER SAID

  "I was so adamant for ages that I wasn’t going. I’ve never moved out of Manchester," he said on the documentary England’s Lions: A New Generation. "I really didn’t want to go, but you get a bit disheartened at City – why am I not getting a chance to play? You just know when you’re ready to play. I’m thankful. I have no idea what I’d do if I wasn’t a footballer. Actually zero idea. Growing up with around Wythenshawe, everyone does footy or drugs. There are two paths. I just love football so much. You don’t get there with no graft, do you?"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

  Palmer may be involved as Chelsea take on Copenhagen in the Conference League on Thursday, though coach Enzo Maresca cast doubt on his fitness after dealing with illness.

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Category: News