Cole Palmer 'wouldn't pass' to one Man City player during training and Pep Guardiola's reaction sums it up

Cole Palmer refused to pass to a Manchester City player in training during his time at the club – and Pep Guardiola’s reaction spoke volumes.

Palmer, 22, is arguably one of the best players in the Premier League at the moment.

He secured the PFA Young Player of the Year award following an excellent first season at Chelsea last term.

This season, he has gone from strength to strength, with his confidence on the pitch stunning even the most seasoned professionals.

The former Manchester City man has already scored 11 goals and registered six assists in 15 Premier League appearances this term, including a cheeky ‘Panenka’ penalty against Tottenham during Chelsea’s 4-3 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

When Palmer joined the Blues in September 2023, many fans questioned the move given the fact at the time, City had just secured a historic treble and he'd even played a role in pre-season, scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 FA Community Shield victory against Arsenal at Wembley.

However, Palmer backed himself and moved to London in search of more regular first-team football.

Guardiola may regret letting the player go as a former City star revealed how the Spaniard knew he was “special”.

Cole Palmer left Man City in September 2023 (Credit:Getty)

“Pep [Guardiola] knew [Cole] Palmer had something special because he doesn’t pass to Kevin De Bruyne when he asks for the ball,” Joleon Lescott said on the High Performance Podcast earlier this year.

“Pep knew he got personality because in training if young lads come up, and then Kevin shouts for the ball, even if it’s not on [for a pass], they would try to pass to him.

"Cole doesn’t do that. If there’s something better on for Cole and the team, that’s what’s happening, not that Kevin needs the ball.”

During the 2023/24 season, Guardiola revealed how it was Palmer who “wanted to leave” the club.

“He's an exceptional player,” said Guardiola.

“I said many times, I didn't give him the minutes that maybe he deserved, and now he has at Chelsea.

“I understand completely. He's a shy guy with a lot of potential. It is what it is. He was asking for two seasons to leave and I said stay. He said he wanted to leave. What could we do?”