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Gary Neville comments on boyhood Manchester United fan Cole Palmer, Chelsea form ‘rubs salt into the wounds’
Manchester United have boyhood fans in Erik ten Hag’s first team but one player with United in his heart is thriving elsewhere.
The academy success at Manchester United means boyhood fans are regularly coming up through the ranks.
Two stand-out examples in the United first-team picture right now are Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo.
Rashford hails from Manchester and was raised around Fallowfield, Withington and Wythenshawe whilst Mainoo hails from Stockport.
Both players grew up supporting United and are now living out their dreams by pulling on the famous red shirt on a weekly basis.
Others have had to leave United in search of first-team action elsewhere whilst one boyhood United fan is tearing up the Premier League for Chelsea.
Gary Neville on Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer is the talk of the Premier League right now after four goals in Chelsea’s win over Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend.
Palmer was exceptional last season and is now taking that form into this term having also scored in the Euro 2024 final.
The attacking midfielder emerged with Manchester City but actually grew up supporting United.
Nedum Onuoha confirmed Palmer’s love for United last year, though his goalscoring exploits against United left Patrice Evra questioning his allegiance.
Jamie Carragher has actually backed United to sign Palmer down the line but Gary Neville has no such confidence.
Speaking on It’s Called Soccer, Neville noted that Palmer’s form for Chelsea is only making matters worse for United after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Neville now feels that Palmer is completely unattainable for United and cursed his rise away from Old Trafford.
“I know, to be fair, that just rubs salt into the wounds,” said Neville.
“I mean, seriously. He plays for Manchester City as a kid, he supports Manchester United, then he goes to Chelsea and starts scoring 3000 goals and signs a 42-year contract so we can’t even get him back!” said Neville.
Palmer to United a mere pipe dream now
Palmer’s performances in a Chelsea shirt have been simply outstanding and he is now in the conversation for the Premier League’s top player.
Nobody could have really seen this coming when Chelsea pounced to sign Palmer from Manchester City in a £42.5million deal last year, as reported by BBC Sport.
Even Chelsea must be somewhat surprised with the elite-level displays from Palmer.
Seeing Palmer shine elsewhere stints a little, not only because of his love for United but because of United’s own struggles down the right flank, where Palmer can certainly play.
City would have surely been reluctant to sell Palmer to United if there had been interest in 2023 and Chelsea have now locked Palmer down for years to come.
Neville is probably right here; Palmer to United is probably one to forget about barring a change in circumstances – or unless it’s towards the end of his career.
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