Football News

PEP GUARDIOLA admits Cole Palmer has been the “decisive player of the season” after being forced to sell him to Chelsea.

But the Manchester City boss insists the England midfielder, 21, asked to leave the Etihad for TWO YEARS before he finally got his £40million move to Stamford Bridge last summer.

Palmer bids to boot his old club out of the FA Cup in Sunday's Wembley semi-final after scoring 20 Prem goals already this season — including FOUR in Monday’s 6-0 thrashing of Everton.

And Guardiola confessed: “He said he wanted to leave. What could we do? He was asking for two seasons to leave and I said, ‘No, stay’.

“I also said in pre-season he should stay because Riyad Mahrez had gone, but he said, ‘No, I want to leave’.

“So after two seasons what could I say?

“Playing at his current level is exceptional. He is an incredible threat. Everyone knows it.

“We’ve seen how strong Chelsea are, the weapons they have up front, and Cole is the decisive player of the season.”

Palmer is level with City striker Erling Haaland in the race for this season’s Golden Boot and is even being tipped as a potential Footballer of the Year.

And Guardiola conceded: “I didn’t give him the minutes that he deserved. He wanted minutes that now he has at Chelsea. I understand completely.

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“I am happy for him because he’s a lovely guy and an exceptional player.”

Chelsea chief Mauricio Pochettino sympathised with Guardiola’s dilemma.

The Argentine said: “I understand perfectly when a young player wants to play more and you don’t have the possibility to provide this time.

“If you have players like Phil Foden, Jack Grealish or Bernardo Silva, yes, you have to have patience. If you are not able to live with it, you have to

Jack Grealish Bernardo Silva Phil Foden Pep Guardiola Cole Palmer Mauricio Pochettino