Cole Palmer has made thoughts very clear on potential Enzo Maresca reunion at Man City

Amid speculation of a Cole Palmer reunion at Manchester City following Pep Guardiola’s exit, fans are reminded of the midfielder’s comments regarding a reunion with Enzo Maresca

Even a reunion with Enzo Maresca may not be enough to convince Cole Palmer on a return to Manchester City this summer. That’s following comments he made earlier this year regarding the incessant speculation linking him with a Manchester comeback.

Palmer left City for Chelsea almost three years ago when he moved to west London in a £42.5million transfer. What seemed like a steep fee at the time quickly became a bargain deal, however, after Palmer shot to first-team stardom at Stamford Bridge.

That individual success continued after Maresca took charge of the team in 2024 and his old boss could look to sanction a reunion if he replaces the departing Pep Guardiola this summer. However, it doesn’t appear as though Palmer’s likely to be tempted based on remarks he made just last month.

“Everyone just talks,” he told The Guardian in April. “When I see it I just laugh. Obviously Manchester is my home. All my family are there, but I don’t miss it. Maybe I’ll miss it if I don’t go for three months or something. But then when I get home I think there’s nothing there for me anyway.

“I’ve got no plans to move from Chelsea. We’ve still got a lot to play for. We’ve got the FA Cup semi-final [against Leeds] and if we finish in a Champions League spot it puts us in a good position to sign players that we need.”

Therein lies one particular hurdle given Chelsea will not qualify for next season’s Champions League in light of a miserable run of form. Not only that, but the Blues are a doubt to qualify for Europe at all ahead of Tuesday’s clash at home to Tottenham.

Caretaker coach Calum McFarlane has just two games left in charge and could still snag a Europa League spot with a perfect finish. However, even that looks unlikely as the Blues look to climb from 10th and overcome the four-point gap to Brighton in seventh.

Xabi Alonso’s appointment as the next permanent Chelsea boss is one that could work to keep Palmer onboard, too. The opportunity to work under such an iconic Premier League midfielder isn’t one that comes around every day, adding further fuel to the fire suggesting Chelsea’s No. 10 will stay.

Palmer went into greater detail regarding conversations he’s had with his captain, Reece James, regarding Chelsea’s development. The 24-year-old even outlined the depth to which he and his team-mate have gone in taking that planning on themselves, showing the investment Palmer holds in the Chelsea project.

“We spoke to the owners and they’re sure of the players that are gonna,” he continued. “Reece won’t sign a six-year contract if he’s not spoken to the owners and the directors.