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The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
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. 3 3 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.' 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 football. 'Back home I get recognised. At the start, it was a bit 'wow', but now I get used to it. 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 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.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Palmer on fame: 'I think, why me?'
In Cole Palmer's mind, the 22-year-old is still the same ambitious young footballer that messaged Eden Hazard, but his life has changed markedly in the last two England international has become a household name and is now described by Enzo Maresca as "Chelsea's best player".Palmer is on billboards advertising the Club World Cup in United States host cities and been given the no10 shirt, once worn by the legendary when asked about his newfound fame, Palmer said: "Yes, I am just a normal kid so when people do stuff like [notice me], I think… why me?"Obviously in restaurants I get recognised. At the start, it was a bit wow, but now I get used to it. I still do the same things now that I did before I came to Chelsea."I try and think 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, PlayStation and go to the Astro [turf] and just do normal things [to take my mind of things]."It has been quick in terms of how fast it has happened but it is a nice feeling and if I keep performing and keep doing stuff hopefully it will get better and bigger."What highlights Palmer's change in status was he once messaged Hazard while an academy player in 2015. Of course, the message went unreplied and unread. When asked whether Hazard replied yet, Palmer said: "Nah," but added: "I have seen him a few times at the training ground. He asked me for one of my shirts for his sons."Palmer has also taken Hazard's iconic no10 shirt, explaining: "I wore no10 all my life growing up and I just like the number, so yes, it is an iconic number, which makes me think of Messi and Rooney."He is also seeing a team built around him with fellow Manchester City academy graduates, with Liam Delap – who joined in a £30m move from Ipswich - rekindling a former partnership from their youth days. They, along with Romeo Lavia, won Premier League 2 for the Under-23s in 2021 under now Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and Palmer explained: "I played with Liam for a number of years when he started at City. I just know where he is going to be, and I like to find him and hopefully I can assist him a lot this season."The Blues next face Flamengo in the Club World Cup in Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field and Palmer's uncle has provided some Brazilian knowledge. "My uncle has lived in Brazil for over 10 years and messaged me to say they are one of the biggest clubs in Brazil and please score," he continued. "Apparently, that's all they are talking about so I expect it will be a good game."
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Soccer Aid 2025: Who's playing, how to watch and when is England vs World XI?
Soccer Aid is back for 2025 with the charity football match returning to Old Trafford as England battle the World XI. The Three Lions secured redemption last year with victory for the first time since 2018 thanks to a 6–3 win at Stamford Bridge. The match, put on to raise money for UNICEF, generated more than £15m in donations last year with the likes of Eden Hazard and Alessandro del Piero featuring in an entertaining nine-goal contest. It was a tough night for Olympics legend Usain Bolt though, with the Jamaican rupturing his Achilles tendon to leave him in agony as a stretcher carried him off the pitch. This year, former heavyweight world champion boxer Tyson Fury, currently retired since his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, will now take charge of England as manager, having teased a return to the ring at the stadium of his beloved Red Devils. The Theatre of Dreams will welcome some Manchester United legends, too, including Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes. Here's everything you need to know about this year's charity match: When and where is Soccer Aid 2025? Soccer Aid 2025 will be played on Sunday 15 June at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, with kick-off set for 7:30pm BST. How can I watch Soccer Aid 2025 on TV and is there a live stream? You can watch Soccer Aid 2025 live on ITV1 and ITVX will have you covered for a live stream on mobile devices. Coverage starts at 6pm BST. Who is playing? The full squads are yet to be confirmed, but a number of current and former players, as well as celebrities have been announced. England Manager and coaches Tyson Fury Wayne Rooney David James Harry Redknapp Vicky McClure Robbie Williams Players Sir Mo Farah Wayne Rooney Louis Tomlinson Gary Neville Paul Scholes Steven Bartlett Joe Hart Angry Ginge Toni Duggan Steph Houghton Jill Scott Alex Brooker Jermain Defoe Tom Grennan Sam Quek Sam Thompson Paddy McGuinnes World XI Kaylyn Kyle Livi 'Diamond' Sheldon Leonardo Bonucci Lee Mack Nadia Nadim
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Benfica struggling to meet financial demands of a João Félix deal — report
Benfica are said to be interested in bringing back João Félix, preferably before the start of the Club World Cup, but in an entirely expected development, they are struggling to meet the financial demands of this proposition — even though both player and club are pushing hard for the reunion (and Chelsea are more than willing to make it happen, for a reasonable price). According to A Bola, Benfica initially asked for a loan, but Chelsea are adamant about authorizing only a permanent move. We have asked for €30m to make that happen. Benfica are willing to go as high as €25m, so the gap in valuation is certainly not huge — though €25m would be the third highest transfer fee paid in Benfica history, so it's already a considerable investment for them. However, the bigger hindrance is the salary. Félix is rumored to be earning around €8m per year, which is twice as much as Benfica's wage structure allows. So if he truly wants this reunion to happen, he will have to take a significant pay cut. More from Thibaut Courtois wins Premier League Golden Glove What is your favorite memory of Chelsea's Champions League final victory in Munich? Nathan Ake, Kurt Zouma receive surprise national team call-ups Chelsea to continue building around Eden Hazard Chelsea 4-3 Watford, Premier League: Tactical Analysis Chelsea 'making progress' on €90m Romelu Lukaku — reports Conte wants six new signings at Chelsea for next season's Premier League and Champions League title push Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
On this day 2012: Chelsea sign a Premier League genius
On this day in 2012, Chelsea completed the signing of Eden Hazard from French club Lille. The West Londoners beat off competition from Europe's elite to land Hazard in a £32m deal. Hazard had excelled in Ligue 1, emerging as one of Europe's best young talents at Lille. He set new records as the first non-French winner of the division's Young Player of the Year award, claiming that accolade in back-to-back seasons. The following year, he became the youngest winner of the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award after inspiring Lille to title success. It was another honour he retained a season later. Advertisement Newly-crowned European champions Chelsea won the race to sign Hazard and it was a deal that represented one of their finest of the Premier League era. Across seven spectacular seasons at Stamford Bridge, Hazard registered 198 goals and assists in 352 appearances and won six major trophies. He was Chelsea's Player of the Season on four occasions and named as the Premier League's finest in 2014/15. Hazard won the PFA Player of the Year as Chelsea lifted the title, before starring in a second Premier League triumph in 2016/17. The Belgian also twice lifted the Europa League with Chelsea. In the second of those successes, Hazard scored twice as London rivals Arsenal were thrashed 4-1 in the 2019 final. It was his final appearance in Blue, before an ill-fated big-money move to Real Madrid. Injuries in Spain meant Hazard never again recaptured the brilliance of his time at Chelsea before a premature retirement from the game in 2023, aged just 32. Advertisement Those who watched him at his brilliant best in blue, however, witnessed one of the Premier League's most watchable talents. Full of flair, balance, fleet footwork and deceptive strength, Hazard glided past players and scored some sensational goals for Chelsea. Read – Moments that made the Premier League: Mourinho arrives at Chelsea See more – The Premier League transfer stories to watch this week Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
