Cole Palmer is now a household name when it comes to the Premier League and even world football. The Englishman is the center piece for Chelsea under the stewardship of Enzo Maresca. While there’s no doubt about the 22-year-old’s talent, he’s also carved out a reputation for being one of the funniest blokes in football.
Whether it’s intentional or just a natural extension of his laid-back personality, Palmer’s humor connects differently with fans, and he often end’s up delivering moments of pure hilarity.
We know loads about today’s Palmer and his skills on the pitch, thanks to Rising Ballers we got we got a glimpse of a much younger Cole Palmer. The popular Instagram page, boasting over 2.5 million followers posts about rising football stars, and other less mainstream football stories.
In a throwback post, they unveiled a gem from 2020—a Q&A session with an 18-year-old Palmer during his Manchester City academy days. And true to form, Palmer’s responses had all the hallmarks of his confident and nonchalant personality.
Sitting casually in a car, the then-teenager answered questions with the self-assuredness of someone destined for greatness. The first question? How he coped with facing players who were faster and stronger. Palmer’s answer was quintessentially him: a blend of football IQ, skill, and, as he put it, “a bit of body.”
The next question delved into whether he modeled his game on any top players.
His answer? Bold as expected. “Personally I don’t try and model my game around anyone,” he said. While he did admit to studying the best to improve, the response shows his clarity from a young age in carving his own path—a trait that still defines his career.
When asked about the best players he had played with, Palmer rattled off an impressive list of names. Unsurprisingly, it included Manchester City academy stars like Tommy Doyle, Phil Foden, and Eric Garcia.
But there was also a notable mention of Noni Madueke, his current teammate at Chelsea. The two shared the pitch as England U-15 teammates, and their paths have now reunited at Stamford Bridge.
And then came the final question: the best players he had faced. This list was just as fascinating, headlined by the likes of Mason Greenwood and Barcelona’s once-prized starboy, Ansu Fati, whose career has unfortunately been marred by injuries.
But Palmer also threw in two unexpected names — Ajax forward Brian Brobbey and Mohammed Ihattaren, now plying his trade at RKC Waalwijk after a tumultuous journey through clubs like Ajax and Juventus.
The throwback offered a glimpse into Palmer’s early years, and showed off his authenticity and charm that make him so easy to root for, and how he’s had it from the age of 18.
