Cole Palmer reveals bizarre reason he wore mask on Chelsea's Club World Cup plane and says even Maresca didn't know why

COLE PALMER wants to follow in the footsteps of football's icons by taking on the challenge as Chelsea's No. 10.
Yet he is fast becoming one himself as his career shoots for the stars.
Palmer has been handed the coveted shirt number from team-mate
Advertisement
3
Cole Palmer is Chelsea's new No.10
Credit: Getty
3
He has taken the number from the banned Mykhailo Mudryk
Credit: AP
Images of Chelsea's most gifted player are plastered across every advertising banner, hoarding and online publicity shot as Fifa cash in on his growing fame at the Club World Cup.
While Palmer talks of his admiration for Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney and former Blues No .10 Eden Hazard, it is slowly dawning on him that he is being swiftly elevated in status too.
The forward, 23, said: 'I wore No .10 growing up.
'Messi is the big one, Rooney and players like that. It's an iconic number.'
Advertisement
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Hazard wowed Blues fans from 2012 to 2019 and Palmer added: 'I've seen him a few times at the training ground. He asked me for one of my shirts for his sons. To see him was nice, we had a conversation.'
Fame does not come easy for this understated lad from Manchester.
'Back home I get recognised. At the start, it was a bit 'wow', but now I get used to it.
Advertisement
Most read in Football
Exclusive
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
'It's just a game of football at the end of the day, like it's not life or death.
'So I just try and enjoy it. I like to go and play five-a-side and go to the astro. I like PlayStation. I just do things a normal kid would do.'
Former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Geremi handed five-year ban from football activity after row with Samuel Eto'o
Three Flamengo players to watch
Flamengo boost some recognisable players in their sqiuad...
JORGINHO - FAMILIAR
Face for Chelsea fans, well those in the UK anyway.
Might not be so over here in the US. But a Champions League winner with The Blues in 2021.
He was an acquired taste for the supporters, they saw him as a symbol of the derided 'Sarri-ball' of former boss Maurizio Sarri, who won them the Europa League and finished third in the Premier League.
DANILO - DEFENDER
Who will also be recognisable to English soccer fans.
A defender with Manchester City for two seasons. Was not a mainstay of the team but still collected two Premier League titles - successive ones between 2017 & 2019.
FILIPE LUIS - A LEFT BACK
Who also played for Chelsea. Bought from Atletico Madrid by legendary Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
He was drafted to fill the boots of iconic left back Ashley Cole but it never quite worked out.
He stayed only one season and made barely a dozen appearances.
3
Palmer sparked intrigue as he wore a mask on the flight to the US
Credit: Reuters
Advertisement
Palmer can wave goodbye to normal as the face of the new Blues. His off-the-cuff style and habit of turning games on their heads in split seconds make him a huge draw.
After training this week, he was mobbed by dozens of schoolchildren. American kids who have grown to love him from 4,000 miles away.
He said: 'Well, my uncle lives in Brazil and messaged me to say they're one of their biggest clubs and that's all they are talking about, so I expect it will be a good game. He messaged me to say please score.
Advertisement
'Playing a game every three days in this heat is difficult but it's bringing us closer together as a team.'
One image of Palmer that sent shockwaves through Fifa saw him getting off the plane wearing a face mask.
Boss
But Palmer explained: 'It wasn't a joke I just don't like the smell of planes. That's why I wear a mask.
Advertisement
'Nothing else. Enzo doesn't know, I didn't tell him, but he didn't ask me to be fair.'
Mudryk will be issued with a new squad number once his issues over a positive test for banned substance meldonium is resolved.
Palmer said: 'I have not spoken to Misha yet but I will when the time is right.'
Club World Cup 2025 Guide
SOME of the world's biggest clubs are heading Stateside for a MAMMOTH Club World Cup.
Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Man City, and Inter Miami are among the 32 teams taking part in the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 13.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane will be showing their skills to packed crowds across the US.
Los Blancos are favourites to lift the trophy in New York but will face stiff competition from around the globe.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the tournament...
INFO
Everything you need to know ahead of the Club World Cup
LATEST NEWS & FEATURES

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The 42

7 minutes ago

• The 42

Huge blow for Bohs as they are sucker-punched before the break

Waterford FC 2 Bohemian FC 1 Adrian Flanagan reports from the Regional Sports Centre TWO GOALS IN the dying minutes of the first-half from Padraig Amond and Conan Noonan steered Waterford FC to a massive 2-1 win over second-placed Bohemian FC in their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division at a rocking RSC. Rhys Brennan could have put the visitors in front on 13 minutes when the centre forward peeled off his marker to latch onto a long ball from Rob Cornwall from his centre-half position, but his first-time of the advancing Stephen McMullan went wide. Blues keeper McMullan made a fine double save to keep Bohs at bay on 34 minutes. Rooney swung in a right-wing corner that saw the ball break to Dawson Devoy, who saw his crisp snapshot saved before the netminder responded well to save Rob Cornwall's rebound header. After Lonegan went agonisingly close to a brilliant opener for the hosts six minutes later, only to fire inches wide, the centre forward played a part in a penalty that gave the hosts the lead in the final minute of the half. He was bundled over in the area by Leigh Kavanagh, and referee Marc Lynch pointed straight to the spot. Although Bohs keeper Kacper Chorazka guessed the right way, he couldn't keep out Padraig Amond's brilliant 12-yarder. Advertisement The home side doubled the lead three minutes into first-half added time. McMullan's goal-kick was flicked on by Grant Horton, which saw the ball break for Conan Noonan off Kavanagh, and he beat Chorazka with a stunning left-footed strike from 20 yards. Waterford missed a host of early second-half chances to kill the game, with Tommy Lonergan, Darragh Leahy, and Jesse Dempsey all going close to extending the lead by the hour mark, but they couldn't convert from inside the area. The hosts were punished for those missed opportunities on 72 minutes. Ryan Burke's loose header was picked up by Keith Buckley, who touched the ball inside for Ross Tierney to send Dawson Devoy clear on the left, and he beat McMullan with a sweet left-footed strike. Both sides had chances in the dying moments as Kyle White had a header cleared off the line on 87 minutes before James Clarke was just over the bar in the final minute as the hosts withstood five added minutes Waterford FC: McMullan; Horton, McDonald, Leahy, Burke, Dempsey (White 85); Lonergan, Olayinka (McMenamy 85), Glenfield, Noonan (McCormack 90+1); Amond. Bohemian FC: Chorazka; Morahan (Strods 85), Cornwall, Kavanagh, Flores (Buckley 57); Brennan (Clarke 46), Tierney, Devoy, McDonnell, Rooney; Whelan (McManus 57). Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway).

RTÉ News​

31 minutes ago

• RTÉ News​

Nicolas Jackson sent off as Chelsea implode against Flamengo

Nicolas Jackson was sent off as Chelsea crashed to a 3-1 loss to Flamengo at the Club World Cup. Pedro Neto fired the Blues ahead early on but Enzo Maresca's side imploded in the second half in Philadelphia. The Blues conceded twice and saw Jackson dismissed for a horror tackle in the space of just six minutes after the break. Their woes were compounded when Wallace Yan wrapped up the scoring late on, adding to earlier goals from fellow substitute Bruno Henrique and veteran Danilo. The result – played out in front of a crowd of 54,019 at Lincoln Financial Field – left Chelsea with a win and a loss from their two outings in Group D having earlier looked set to take a giant stride towards the last 16. It made for a disappointing full debut for new striker Liam Delap, who had been brought into the side for Jackson, but a notable scalp for Flamengo manager Filipe Luis, formerly of the London club.

Irish Examiner

an hour ago

• Irish Examiner

Nicolas Jackson sent off as Chelsea implode against Flamengo

Nicolas Jackson was sent off as Chelsea crashed to a 3-1 loss to Flamengo at the Club World Cup. Pedro Neto fired the Blues ahead early on but Enzo Maresca's side imploded in the second half in Philadelphia. The Blues conceded twice and saw Jackson dismissed for a horror tackle in the space of just six minutes after the break. This Mengão comeback. 😮‍💨#FIFACWC — FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 20, 2025 Their woes were compounded when Wallace Yan wrapped up the scoring late on, adding to earlier goals from fellow substitute Bruno Henrique and veteran Danilo. The result – played out in front of a crowd of 54,019 at Lincoln Financial Field – left Chelsea with a win and a loss from their two outings in Group D having earlier looked set to take a giant stride towards the last 16. It made for a disappointing full debut for new striker Liam Delap, who had been brought into the side for Jackson, but a notable scalp for Flamengo manager Filipe Luis, formerly of the London club. The game got off to lively and feisty start yet while the Brazilians looked more at ease in the heat – 27C at kick-off – they struggled to carve out clear-cut openings. Former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho did fire over in the early stages but Robert Sanchez was not troubled in goal. Despite a lack of possession and a subdued performance from Cole Palmer out wide, Chelsea offered a threat on the counter-attack. Delap went close to opening the scoring when he burst clear and forced Agustin Rossi to palm over. Chelsea grabbed the lead when Neto benefited from a fortunate ricochet after being struck by an attempted clearance from Wesley. The Portuguese broke clear from halfway and calmly tucked away his second goal of the tournament from the edge of the box. Neto almost created another for Delap but his pull-back was cut out by Wesley and Chelsea had a penalty appeal rejected after Enzo Fernandez went down in the area. Levi Colwill headed clear off the line after a Flamengo free-kick was slung into the area but it was not until the second period the Brazilians began to cause serious problems. Gerson should have equalised when he cut back inside Colwill to create an opportunity but his mishit shot was intercepted by Trevoh Chalobah. It rebounded to Gonzalo Plata but he somehow poked wide. Chelsea were inches away from a second when Leo Pereira, under pressure from Delap, clipped the ball narrowly past his own post but the Blues had little control. They had another escape when Sanchez tipped over from Plata. The equaliser came just after the hour when Plata headed back across goal and Henrique raced in to pounce at the back post. Chelsea were reeling and were stung again just moments later as Henrique turned provider to head back a corner for Danilo to volley in. Nicolas Jackson's foul on Ayrton Lucas earned him a red card (Chris Szagola/AP) Chelsea's capitulation continued as Jackson, just minutes after coming off the bench, was given his marching orders for a reckless challenge in which he caught Ayrton Lucas on the shin with force. Yan rubbed salt in the wounds seven minutes from time when he readjusted and tucked home after getting in the way of a shot from team-mate Plata.