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- Cole Palmer has taken on the No 10 shirt previously held by Mykhailo Mudryk
- Mudryk has been charged by the FA after a positive test for meldonium
- Watch Every Club World Cup Match Live on DAZN. Sign Up Now
Cole Palmer did not consult Mykhailo Mudryk before taking his No 10 shirt, though Chelsea’s playmaker does intend on speaking privately with the suspended Ukrainian when he senses the time is right.
Having previously worn No 20, Palmer took on his new number ahead of the Club World Cup, with the news breaking on Wednesday how Mudryk now faces up to a four-year ban after being charged by the Football Association for failing a drugs test.
Speaking in Philadelphia to the English press pack, Palmer said: ‘I wore No 10 all my life growing up and I just like the number. (Lionel) Messi, the big one, (Wayne) Rooney and players like that – it’s an iconic number.
‘I have not spoken to Misha yet 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 was wearing a face mask when he arrived in the United States, with some speculating as to whether he was ill or playing a practical joke for the cameras.
Actually, it was neither, as he explained: ‘It wasn’t a joke. I just don’t like the smelly planes. That’s why I wear a mask. When I travel I don’t like the smells so that’s why I wear them. Nothing else. Enzo (Maresca) doesn’t know, I didn’t tell him, but he didn’t ask me to be fair.’
Cole Palmer (centre) has revealed he did not speak to Mykhailo Mudryk (left) about taking his shirt number
Palmer took on the No 10 shirt ahead of the Club World Cup after previously wearing No 20
Mudryk has been banned by the FA after returning a failed drugs test last year
On possible fatigue after a long season, Palmer said: ‘I will need a break because we’ve been playing for a year straight. But at the start of last season, everyone wanted to play the Champions League, so now we have it, no one’s going to be tired.’
Maresca has also reminded Palmer that he has a licence to thrill, with the England international saying: ‘Obviously you can’t take the p*** and do whatever you want, but I feel like he still gives you a little bit of room to try and see what I can do.’
In Philadelphia, it is Palmer’s face on the Club World Cup adverts plastered around the city. He is prone to being mobbed when in public, particularly in London, and said on his rapid rise to fame: ‘At the start, it was a bit “wow”, but now I get used to it.
‘I am just a normal kid so when people do stuff like that I think, “Why me?” Obviously, it (the pressure) can sometimes get to everyone. But most of the time, I try and ignore it. I still do the same things now that I did before I came to Chelsea. I try to think it’s just a game of football at the end of the day, it’s not life or death.
‘I just try and enjoy it. I like to go and play five-side and go to the Astro [turf] and do normal things.’
Chelsea face Flamengo next at the Club World Cup and Palmer added: ‘My uncle lives in Brazil and messaged me to say they are one of the biggest clubs in Brazil and that’s all they are talking about, so I expect it will be a good game. He has lived in Brazil for over 10 years and he messaged me to say please score.’
Estevao Willian is incoming at Chelsea and the 18-year-old Brazilian wonderkid from Palmeiras will compete with Palmer for minutes. ‘He’s a really good player, and I’ve spoken to him a few times,’ Palmer said. ‘He doesn’t speak much English, so I think it was a case of Google Translate, but I’ve had a few conversations with him saying I’m looking forward to seeing him and playing with him.’
