There haven’t been many players more talented than Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge, but he’ll admit there was one who Chelsea let slip through the cracks.
Palmer has been nothing short of phenomenal since making the switch to West London.
He has emerged as one of the very best, not just at Chelsea, but in the Premier League. Gary Lineker even tips Palmer to win the Ballon d’Or.
Even Palmer has some players he looks up to, though, and one in particular who could have been his running mate in an alternate football timeline.
Cole Palmer speaks with Kevin De Bruyne during match between Chelsea and Manchester City
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Cole Palmer says Kevin De Bruyne is the best player he’s played with
When you look at who Palmer has shared a pitch with in his relatively short career, it’s rather obvious that he would pick one of the best midfielders ever to play in England.
While at Man City, Palmer made just a few appearances alongside Kevin De Bruyne, but it was enough to stick with him.
Chatting with JD Sports on TikTok, Palmer instantly names the six-time Premier League champion as the best he has played with.
Kevin De Bruyne playing for Chelsea
Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images
Chelsea signed De Bruyne in 2012 for a rumoured £7 million fee, and he never made his mark at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues would turn a profit on him, selling him to Wolfsburg for £18 million 18 months later. He would make his return to England in 2015, and the rest is history. Quite literally, De Bruyne has had a historic career.
It remains — alongside Mo Salah — as one of the biggest Chelsea What Ifs.
Palmer names his most difficult opponent and legend he’d love to play with
Palmer’s return was the one positive from Leeds during the week.
He is preparing to get back into the intense demands of the season, but not before giving some interesting answers to questions about Premier League greats.
How much is Cole Palmer worth?
Cole Palmer celebrates during FC Bayern München v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
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Asked for his toughest opponent, he names Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk. That’s one of the more common answers to that question.
As for a legend Palmer wishes he could play with, he goes for Man United great Wayne Rooney.
Certainly no Chelsea bias from him.
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