There are not many decisions in recent years that Manchester City have got wrong.
The Premier League giants’ success on the pitch has derived from the correct calls they have made off it, from appointing Pep Guardiola as head coach to signing gems such as Rodri.
When it comes to bad calls, Man City fans may disagree with the club’s decision to allow Kevin De Bruyne to leave this summer; however, one error made in 2023 stands above the rest.
John Obi Mikel still can’t believe what Man City did two years after the event, with the former Chelsea star stating that it still ‘baffles’ him to this day.
John Obi Mikel at the 74th FIFA Congress.
Photo by Pakawich Damrongkiattisak – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
John Obi Mikel can’t believe Man City let Cole Palmer leave
Man City made the brave decision to allow Cole Palmer to join Chelsea as part of a £40m deal in 2023, and it is fair to say that it has backfired, as the midfielder has developed into one of the best players in the Premier League.
The Manchester club did not rate the Englishman very highly, which was evident in the fact that Man City did not even bother to include a buyback clause in Palmer’s Chelsea contract.
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Speaking about Man City’s decision to allow the 23-year-old to leave in 2023, Mikel says the transfer still stuns him to this day, but admits it was a hard call for Guardiola to make.
“I mean, the guy, brilliant, brilliant player. I mean, it baffles me how City let him go,” Mikel told The Rest Is Football. “But of course, when you have so many players in that position, good players, it’s difficult for Pep to have seen it. Because it’s special, isn’t it? It’s special.”
Man City fans believe Palmer made the right decision to leave for Chelsea, as the midfielder would not have got the opportunities he is getting now at the Etihad Stadium.
Phil Foden was the City academy graduate Guardiola had full faith in, and it was just unfortunate the way things turned out for the Manchester club.
Cole Palmer holding the Best Player of the Tournament trophy after Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain.
Photo by Justin Setterfield – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
How Cole Palmer compares to Phil Foden
The problem Guardiola had with Palmer and Foden is that they play in the same positions and have very similar styles of play.
Both like to pick the ball up in front of the opposition defences, create chances for their teammates, shoot from distance, and go on mazy runs. Palmer is a better passer than the Man City star, while it can be argued that Foden has a better shot than the Chelsea superstar.
Player Games Goals Assists
Cole Palmer 97 43 29
Phil Foden 102 40 20
Cole Palmer and Phil Foden’s stats for the last two seasons
There is an argument to be made that Man City did not make a mistake with Palmer, as Foden went on to be crowned the PFA Players’ Player of the Year the season after the Chelsea star left.
It is only since De Bruyne departed this summer that Man City could do with the Englishman in their squad, but the 23-year-old might not have been as good due to the lack of opportunities he would have had compared to Chelsea.