Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has delivered a glowing public compliment to Chelsea sensation Cole Palmer.
Chelsea powered to a 3–1 Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday, with Palmer producing a breathtaking hat-trick inside just 38 minutes.
The first two goals came from the penalty spot, with the England international showing ice-cold composure to give Chelsea a dream start.
Palmer then completed his treble in emphatic style, showing his ruthless return to top form.
He posted pictures from the victory on Instagram, with Fernandes leaving a notable comment: “What a player.”
Here is the screenshot.
Just a fortnight earlier, Palmer had been linked with a “sensational transfer” to Old Trafford.
The attacking star joined Chelsea from Manchester City in a £42.5 million deal in 2023.
There is growing belief in some quarters that Palmer could one day be tempted to make a blockbuster move to the Theatre of Dreams, especially given that he is a boyhood Manchester United fan.
There is a further connection between Palmer and United. Jason Wilcox, who is now the Director of Football at the Red Devils, was the academy head at City when Palmer was breaking through.
He will be well aware that Palmer has a bright future and could be one of the names to replace Fernandes.
There is uncertainty around the future of the Portuguese maestro with Saudi Arabia testing the waters by making an eye-catching offer to the player last summer.
Those suitors could yet return after the World Cup with even bigger offers.
The Red Devils must ensure that Fernandes stays at the club, as losing their talisman would not only weaken the team on the pitch, but also strip the dressing room of its leader and heartbeat.