Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola disclosed that Cole Palmer had been expressing a desire to leave the club for two years before eventually joining Chelsea.
City sold Palmer, 21, to Chelsea for £42.5m on deadline day in September, a decision that has drawn scrutiny as Palmer has excelled with his new club.
Guardiola revealed that Palmer had been keen to depart City, despite the manager’s efforts to persuade him to stay, especially after Riyad Mahrez’s departure.
Palmer’s outstanding performance, including scoring 20 Premier League goals, has prompted questions about Guardiola’s decision to let him go. However, Guardiola explained that Palmer’s consistent request to leave made it impossible to retain him.
Despite Palmer’s limited playing time at City, Guardiola acknowledged that perhaps he should have given him more opportunities. He expressed happiness for Palmer’s success at Chelsea and praised his talent and attitude.
Both Guardiola and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino emphasized the need to handle Palmer’s newfound fame and success carefully. Pochettino highlighted the importance of managing Palmer’s workload and adjusting to his changed lifestyle as a rising star.