Pep Guardiola may have led Manchester City to countless successes, but former England manager Glenn Hoddle believes letting Cole Palmer leave might be his biggest misstep yet. In what could turn into Guardiola’s ultimate regret, Hoddle thinks Palmer could soon eclipse Phil Foden – an outcome that could haunt City fans.
Palmer has burst onto the scene at Chelsea with a vengeance, scoring seven goals and delivering five assists in just nine Premier League matches. For a club that has invested over a billion pounds since Clearlake Capital’s takeover in 2022, Palmer’s £40 million price tag seems like an absolute steal.
Not only has he impressed domestically, but he also starred for England at Euro 2024, setting up the winning goal in the semi-finals and scoring a dramatic equalizer in the final against Spain. In contrast, Foden has struggled to find his groove both with England and early on in City’s campaign this season, further fueling the comparisons between the two young talents.
For Hoddle, the decision to part ways with Palmer might be one Guardiola lives to regret. “I’ve always rated Phil Foden as a top player,” Hoddle shared on the Stick to Football podcast. “But he hasn’t quite delivered what I expected, especially in the Euros. Palmer, on the other hand, looks unbelievable.”
Hoddle envisions Palmer becoming an even bigger name, saying, “He’s got that ‘playground’ style – if he stays true to that, he could become a superstar and potentially outshine Foden in many respects.”
The former England manager acknowledges the road ahead won’t be without challenges. “There’s no doubt he’ll face ups and downs – injuries, dips in form – but if he comes through that, he’s destined for greatness.”
While Palmer has enjoyed a bright, injury-free start in West London, Foden has faced physical setbacks at Manchester City, limiting his impact. Although Foden has had moments of brilliance, particularly in the Champions League, where he has scored twice and assisted once in three games, he’s been unable to replicate the same success in the Premier League this season.
Guardiola himself once hoped to keep Palmer, especially with Riyad Mahrez departing. Reflecting on Palmer’s departure, he shared, “In pre-season, I told him to stay, but he wanted to leave for more minutes. I couldn’t blame him. I didn’t give him the minutes he deserved, and now he’s thriving at Chelsea. He’s a lovely guy and a real threat.”
As Palmer continues to dazzle and Foden finds his footing, Guardiola might just look back and wonder if letting Palmer go was the one gamble he shouldn’t have taken.
