Mask-wearing mystery on Chelsea's Club World Cup flight: Cole Palmer unveils enigmatic explanation, leaving even Maresca in the dark.
Manhattan-born wunderkind Cole Palmer is unabashedly grabbing the spotlight as the latest phenom to don the Chelsea jersey, the highly coveted No.10. Palmer has inherited this esteemed number from team-mate Mykhailo Mudryk, embroiled in a doping scandal that could potentially land him a four-year ban.
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Splashed across billboards, advertisements, and digital promotions, images of this prodigious player have become the face of the Club World Cup.
While Palmer expresses admiration for football legends such as Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, and former Blues' No.10, Eden Hazard, it's becoming increasingly clear he's rapidly emerging from their shadows.
"Growing up, I used to wear No.10," Palmer shared. "Messi is the big one, Rooney and players like that. It's an iconic number."
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Hazard's tenure at Stamford Bridge from 2012 to 2019 left a lasting impression on Palmer, who commented, "I've seen him a few times at the training ground. He asked me for one of my shirts for his sons. It was nice chatting with him."
Despite hailing from the urban jungle of Manchester, Palmer is soaking up the fame that comes with his rapid ascent. The modestly spoken youngster explained, "I haven't walked around New York yet, but I feel like America is different—they don't really watch football. Back home, I get recognized. At first, it was a bit 'wow,' but now I'm getting used to it."
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"It's just a game of football at the end of the day, like it's not life or death. So I just try to have fun with it," Palmer said. "I like to play five-a-side, go to the turf fields, and play on PlayStation. I'm just a normal kid doing normal things."
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Palmer is bidding farewell to ordinary days as the leader of the new Blues. His spontaneous style and knack for turning games around in a matter of seconds make him a firm crowd favorite.
After training this week, Palmer was swarmed by dozens of schoolchildren—excitement from young American fans who've grown fond of him across the Atlantic.
"My uncle lives in Brazil, and he messaged me to say they're one of their biggest clubs and that's all they're talking about," Palmer shared. "So I expect it'll be a good game. He messaged me to score."
One infamous photograph of Palmer sent waves through FIFA after he disembarked from the plane wearing a face mask. Manager Enzo Maresca shrugged it off as a prank. But Palmer clarified, "It wasn't a prank – I don't really like the smell of planes, so I wear a mask. Nothing else, Enzo didn't even ask me to."
Mudryk will receive a new squad number once he resolves his issues concerning a positive test for meldonium, a banned substance. Palmer has yet to speak to Mudryk as he decides when and how to approach the matter.
Palmer expressed his admiration for football legends like Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, and Eden Hazard, who previously wore the No.10 at Chelsea. Football's fame has followed Palmer as he embraces his role as the new star wearing the iconic number.
