Alan Shearer has expressed doubt over Pep Guardiola's claims suggesting he knew Cole Palmer's true potential. Despite Manchester City agreeing to sell the playmaker to Chelsea for £40million in 2023, Palmer's subsequent surge in form for club and country has made the move look like a bargain.
His old Etihad chief maintained his faith in Palmer's abilities and said earlier this year: "If he plays regularly, yes. I didn't have any doubts about his quality. The way he's playing is a star player. He wanted the minutes, it was a question of time to show his immense quality."
Yet Shearer remains sceptical about whether those at City truly grasped Palmer's potential. The Newcastle legend reflected on Palmer's recent two-goal masterclass in Chelsea's thrilling 4-3 triumph over Tottenham.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast (via The Mirror), Shearer said: "I wonder how Man City are looking at him now and their decision [to let him leave]... I know they got big money for him, but I'm not sure they thought he would go to do the things he's doing, no way."
Host Gary Lineker then highlighted the financial aspect: "Well, they got big money, but nothing like what he'd be worth now."
Ex-City defender Micah Richards also chimed in on the debate, adding: "At the time, it was perfect for City. He was homegrown, they got 40million quid, it's worth more because of [FFP] rules."
It was widely regarded as a shrewd piece of business at the time, with many deeming £40m a fair price for a player who was primarily a substitute. However, Palmer's former boss might have taken a different approach, opting to send him out on loan for another year to further his development.
Fast forward to the present day and Palmer – who is now reportedly being courted by Real Madrid – has become an indispensable asset at Chelsea, who have narrowed the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points.
After Palmer's two-goal haul from the penalty spot, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca sang his praises once again, saying: "I know Cole from time ago, I really trust him in every aspect.
"First of all, he's a fantastic boy, a fantastic guy and then, as I've said already many times, he has to learn. He is learning how to play the game when they mark him man-to-man. He is learning, he is improving, he is scoring goals, he is happy and we are all happy."