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 Mykhailo Mudryk, 24, who is facing doping charges and a potential four-year ban.
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Cole Palmer is Chelsea's new No.10
Credit: Getty
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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.'
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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.
Palmer added: 'I haven't walked around Philly yet but I feel like America is different, they don't really watch football.
'Back home I get recognised. At the start, it was a bit 'wow', but now I get 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 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.'
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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.
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Palmer sparked intrigue as he wore a mask on the flight to the US
Credit: Reuters
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.
Chelsea play Flamengo on Friday evening and Palmer has a special reason to play even better against the Rio giants.
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.
'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 Enzo Maresca wrote the whole thing off as a practical joke.
But Palmer explained: 'It wasn't a joke I just don't like the smell of planes. That's why I wear a mask.
'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.'
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