“That is certainly true” – How Cole Palmer came to leave Manchester City for Chelsea despite Burnley talk | OneFootball

A recent report has detailed Cole Palmer’s dramatic summer that ultimately led to his exit from Manchester City to Chelsea – a move that has paid dividends for all involved.

The 21-year-old is experiencing his finest season to date in his top-level professional playing career, and in his first season working under Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea having left Manchester City last summer.

Across 43 appearances in all competitions this season, Palmer has managed to score 25 goals and provide a further 13 assists, with 20 goals and nine assists coming in just 29 Premier League outings with Chelsea.

But given his meteoric rise in the Chelsea squad in just a matter of months, many have been asking the question; why did Manchester City allow a player of such talent to leave, or did they even want the Wythenshawe-born star to leave?

According to the information of Sam Lee writing for The Athletic, Manchester City wanted Cole Palmer to stay, despite what would eventually take place towards the end of the summer transfer window, in a stance “that is certainly true”.

It is detailed that after Riyad Mahrez withdrew from Manchester City’s pre-season tour to Japan and South Korea ahead of a switch to Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia, Etihad Stadium coaching staff called Palmer to ‘ask him to get back to Manchester in time for the flight east’.

Despite talk of a loan move within the Premier League to recently-promoted Burnley, Manchester City ‘assured’ Palmer that he would ‘get more minutes this season’. Unfortunately for those involved, it is stated Palmer had ‘already decided that he wanted to move on’.

Despite Manchester City having no buy-back included in the deal that took Palmer to Chelsea, there remains a connection between the two parties when it comes to future finances that could be headed in the direction of the Etihad Stadium.

While the Premier League champions do not have a sell-on clause included in the agreement, it is widely understood that Manchester City would receive additional funds from Chelsea should they qualify or win the UEFA Champions League, or win the top-flight with Palmer.

City will remain content with the highly-rated youth talent they continue to see emerge from the City Football Academy into their first-team, with Norwegian international Oscar Bobb widely expected to be the next name to become a regular fixture in Pep Guardiola’s plans.