Mauricio Pochettino has now compared Cole Palmer to Angel Di Maria after Manchester City sold the England international to Chelsea.
The 51-year-old made the comments when speaking to TNT Sports.
So, what did Mauricio Pochettino say about Cole Palmer? Let’s take a look…
Pochettino compares Palmer to Di Maria
Well, Manchester City sanctioned a £42.5m sale on transfer deadline day back in September after the 21-year-old expressed a desire to leave.
Palmer has since become Chelsea’s best player, scoring six goals while also providing three assists in 16 Premier League appearances – winning his first England cap as a result.
Now, Pochettino has likened the City Football Academy graduate to 2022 World Cup winner Di Maria, arguably one of the greatest forwards of his generation.
The South American said: “In the position that he plays, and because he’s a left footer and because he has some similarities and the quality, he’s a potential Angel Di Maria.
“He (Palmer) has the capacity and the potential to be close to him, with time. He’s still far away, but this type of player that can link, can be a playmaker, have the capacity to score, assist, it’s this type of player like Angel… he’s doing excellent.”
Regardless of what happened in the summer, that is quite the compliment to staff in the City Football Academy.
Having already produced a truly world class talent in Phil Foden and another gem in Rico Lewis, those working in the Manchester City youth ranks are clearly doing something right.
Some City Football Academy staff members actually hoped Palmer would follow in Foden’s footsteps at the Etihad Stadium.
Palmer could return to Manchester City one day
In our view, it does not feel unrealistic to say that Palmer could return to Manchester City at some point in the future – if Chelsea continue to struggle.
The west Londoners currently sit tenth in the Premier League – 17 points off the summit.
Palmer is talented enough to play regularly in the UEFA Champions League and fight for titles, so if Chelsea fail to improve over the next few years while he continues on his current rise, a reunion at the Etihad Stadium would not come as a shock to us whatsoever.
