- Before facing Cole Palmer’s current team, Chelsea, in a Premier League clash, the midfielder was filled with joy as he returned to his former club, Manchester City.
Palmer, aged 21, spent over a decade at City after graduating from their academy before transferring to Chelsea during the summer transfer window.
Since joining Chelsea, he has excelled, scoring 14 goals and providing nine assists in 31 appearances under Mauricio Pochettino’s management.
In Saturday night’s highly anticipated match between Chelsea and the Premier League champions, Palmer was warmly greeted by many of his former teammates in the tunnel.
He started the game for Chelsea and exchanged handshakes with several City players, including Kyle Walker, Rodri, and Erling Haaland. Palmer was thrilled to engage in such interactions, although similar gestures by other Premier League players have drawn criticism.
One of the most outspoken critics of such player interactions before games in the league is Sky Sports analyst Roy Keane.
Known for his fierce competitiveness during his playing days, particularly in crucial matches, the former Manchester United captain was unimpressed when he observed Andre Onana and Aaron Ramsdale sharing a hug in the tunnel before Manchester United’s match against Arsenal in September.
At the time, Keane, now a Sky Sports analyst, expressed his disappointment with how players behave differently nowadays, emphasizing the intensity and focus required for competition by stating, “You were going to war, you were going to battle.”
