“What can we do” – Pep Guardiola makes Cole Palmer transfer revelation following Manchester City exit | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that Cole Palmer requested to leave the club on multiple occasions.

The 21-year-old quit the Etihad Stadium for Stamford Bridge on Deadline Day in September, leaving Manchester City in a £42.5 million exit to Chelsea.

Palmer, who spent the entirety of his youth footballing career at the City Football Academy, made 41 first-team appearances for Manchester City, and was part of Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning squad last season.

The forward scored in both the FA Community Shield Final and UEFA Super Cup in August, prior to swapping east Manchester for west London in search of regular first-team minutes, despite the Sky Blues’ sale of Riyad Mahrez to the Saudi Pro League.

Palmer had been linked with a potential exit on loan during for the 2023/24 campaign, but signed for Chelsea on a permanent deal, and now jointly-leads the Premier League Golden Boot race with Erling Haaland.

Both Haaland and Palmer have scored 20 league goals so far this season, with the Englishman scoring successive hat-tricks at Stamford Bridge, and netting four goals against Everton in the Premier League on Monday night.

The 21-year-old also has seven direct goal involvements across the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, and was on the scoresheet against Manchester City in the Premier League in November.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley, Guardiola revealed Palmer’s desperation to leave the Etihad Stadium.

“He was asking for two seasons to leave. I said stay. He wanted to leave. What can we do. What can I say? [He’s an] exceptional player, we knew when we were here at Manchester City. I didn’t give him the minutes he deserves that he now has at Chelsea. Incredible potential.”

Manchester City are looking to bounce back from exiting the UEFA Champions League with a win over Chelsea this weekend, with the Sky Blues unbeaten in their last eight games against the London club.