Cole Palmer was the star of the show for Chelsea in their Club World Cup final win against Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea earned an absurd amount of prize money from the competition and Cole Palmer scored twice in the final to oust PSG, who had otherwise been pretty flawless throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
New signing Joao Pedro also contributed some important goals in the latter stages of the tournament, but it was ultimately Palmer who was Enzo Maresca’s biggest difference-maker.
That being said, there might have been one or two Manchester City fans watching the final ruing the club’s decision to sell the England international in 2023.
Palmer was outstanding against PSG, and yet Man City only recouped around £40m for his services two summers ago.
Man City proud of Cole Palmer’s success at Chelsea
Interestingly, rather than just regretting Palmer’s move to Chelsea, City were actually proud to see the 23-year-old dominating in the United States.
Graeme Bailey, chief correspondent at TBR Football, understands that City see Palmer’s success as a glowing example of their academy’s success, rather than just a sale that they regret.
Bailey explained: “What I hear from City is that they’re actually very proud of when one of their academy players goes out and excels.
“That’s the way City portray their academy — it’s why they attract a lot of the best players to their academy.
Cole Palmer with the FIFA Club World Cup trophy and adidas Golden Ball after Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain.
Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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“You will learn how to become a footballer at City’s academy, ‘we will turn you into a professional footballer’.
“The elite story is Phil Foden when it comes to a mainstay in the first team, but for the majority that doesn’t happen, as we’re seeing with James McAtee now.
“I guess there will be some City fans begrudging Palmer’s success at Chelsea — when you see a former academy player from your club doing well you think ‘why not with us?’
“But the way City see it is that their academy is flourishing. Of course City would love to see Palmer playing like this in sky blue, but there’s also some pride in knowing they helped create that success.”
What Pep Guardiola said about selling Cole Palmer
Speaking back in 2024, Pep Guardiola confessed that it was pretty impossible to keep Palmer at the club, given he’d actually been asking to leave two seasons prior to his Chelsea move.
Palmer didn’t have much of a senior career at the Etihad, but he’s certainly not wasted any time over in west London.
Games Goals Assists
Manchester City 41 6 2
Chelsea 97 43 29
Cole Palmer’s record in all competitions for Man City and Chelsea.
Speaking about the situation just over a year ago, Guardiola said: “In pre-season I said stay because Riyad [Mahrez] has gone and he said ‘no, I want to leave’. After two seasons, what could I say?”
He continued: “I said many times, I didn’t give him the minutes that he maybe deserved and wanted, the minutes he now has at Chelsea.
“I understand that completely. I am happy for him because he is a lovely guy. He is playing good and is an incredible threat.”
And those comments are obviously in line with City’s view, a club who understands that their academy talent will sometimes need to flourish elsewhere.