Questions have been asked as to why Manchester United didn’t sign Cole Palmer, who is a boyhood fan of the Old Trafford club, before his groundbreaking move to Chelsea from Manchester City
Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen can’t fathom why Cole Palmer – a boyhood fan of the club – slipped through the cracks and went to Chelsea.
The 22-year-old, who spent his younger years rising through the academy of rivals Manchester City, called time on his Etihad tenure in 2023. Searching for regular first-team football away from Pep Guardiola, Palmer was shipped off to Stamford Bridge for £42.5million, and the dynamic playmaker is now setting the Premier League alight.
Now, Meulensteen, who dedicated 12 years over two spells to assisting Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, has taken a swipe at his old club for not taking the plunge on Palmer – who grew up cheering for the Red Devils – two years ago.
Assessing both United and City’s squads and their transfer triumphs with OLBG, Meulensteen remarked: “It’s hypothetical, but can you imagine Manchester United could grab Erling Haaland, he’d add 25 or 30 goals straight away.
“Then you look at Rodri, he’d bring so much stability to the midfield, then Phil Foden, look at how incredible he was last season. When it comes to missing out on players, look at Cole Palmer.
“Why did he end up at Chelsea when he is a Manchester United fan? Why did United not pick him up?”
During the 2023 summer transfer window, United splashed the cash, but the £60m spent on ex-Chelsea ace Mason Mount – the player Palmer effectively replaced in west London – hasn’t exactly paid dividends.
As Meulensteen hinted, snapping up Palmer – perhaps even for their youth ranks back in the day – could have been a game-changer for United, given the Englishman’s love for the club and seemingly endless talent, reports the Mirror.
“Yeah, when I was growing up I was a United fan,” Palmer confessed to TNT Sports after netting a hat-trick against Erik ten Hag’s squad in April last year.
“But I’ve scored away [at Old Trafford] and a few here [at Stamford Bridge] today, so I’m buzzing. I just try to take each game as it comes and show the Chelsea fans and everyone what I came here to do, and that is just to play football.”
With 13 league goals under his belt this season, Palmer has helped his team eye up a Champions League berth and even stage an outside shot at the title. Meanwhile, United are languishing in 13th, miles off the lofty expectations set for them.