Cole Palmer plans to speak to Mykhailo Mudryk after taking his no.10 shirt at Chelsea.
The Ukrainian winger has been charged by the Football Association for anti-doping violations and could face a further suspension despite denying wrongdoing.
Palmer plans to speak to Mudryk having taken his squad numberGetty Mudryk was stripped of the no.10 shirt by Chelsea this summerGettyPrior to the charge, Palmer took over Mudryk’s number and revealed his love for it stems from Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney.
“I wore number ten all my life growing up and I just like the number,” said Palmer. “Messi, was the big one [idolised] and Rooney, and players like that. It’s just an iconic number.
“I have not spoken to Misha yet [about taking his number], but I will when the time is right. It is not really my place to get involved with him at the minute. I will speak to him.”
Palmer will face new competition in the ten position following the arrival of Estevao Willian, who will join Chelsea from Palmeiras after the Club World Cup.
Estevao has been used as a right-winger for much of his career, but is keen to play through the centre. He is already in contact with Palmer ahead of his move to Stamford Bridge.
“He’s a really good player,” said Palmer. “I’ve spoken to him a few times.
“He doesn’t speak much English, so it was a case of using ‘Google Translate’, but I’ve had a few conversations with him saying I’m looking forward to seeing him and look forward to playing with him, and hopefully he can come in and help us.”
Palmer isn’t fazed by the pressure of wearing ten and following in the footsteps of another of his idols, Eden Hazard.
Ahead of Chelsea’s second Club World Cup match against Brazilian club Flamengo on Friday, live on talkSPORT 2, he is already only eight games away from 100 Chelsea games, and has scored 40 times to date across two seasons since joining from Manchester City.
“Obviously, it [the pressure] sometimes gets to everyone at some point. But most of the time, I try and ignore it,” said Palmer, who was seen casually sitting on the ball in the centre-circle ahead of a delayed second-half in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in Atlanta.
Palmer hopes to emulate Messi and Rooney as Chelsea’s No.10Getty AFPThe playmaker is also excited by the prospect of playing alongside Estevao next season[/caption]“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-side and go to the Astro [turf] and just do normal things [to take my mind of things]. I like PlayStation. I just do things a normal kid would do, right?”
Palmer’s carefree attitude has led to several viral moments, both on and off the field.
After the Conference League Final when asked about his two assists in Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Betis, Palmer said he made something happen because he was just “sick of getting the ball and going backwards and sideways”.
Those comments, which were not aimed at Enzo Marescsa or his style, have become a point of banter in the Chelsea dressing room.
“We had a joke about it,” said Palmer. “My comments weren’t towards the manager or anything. It was just a personal thing.
“I felt like in that game, I was maybe being a bit safe. So that’s where the comment came from.
“I wanted to get the ball and try something different than previously.
“Obviously you can’t take the p*** and do whatever you want and stuff, but I feel like he [Maresca] still gives you a little bit of room to try and see what I can do.”
Palmer also made headlines walking off Chelsea’s plane wearing a face mask when arriving in Philadelphia for the Club World Cup. It led to speculation he was ill.
Maresca later clarified Palmer wasn’t sick and posited the mask was worn as a joke, but Palmer has clarified he wore it for a very specific reason.
It wasn’t a medical reasonGetty“It wasn’t a joke, I just don’t like the smell of planes. That’s why I wore the mask.
“When I travel I don’t like the smells, and the air conditioning and all that stuff. That’s why I wear a mask. Enzo doesn’t know. I didn’t tell him, and he didn’t ask me to be fair!”
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