Palmer on fame: 'I think, why me?'

BBC News

6 hours ago

In Cole Palmer's mind, the 22-year-old is still the same ambitious young footballer that messaged Eden Hazard, but his life has changed markedly in the last two years.The England international has become a household name and is now described by Enzo Maresca as "Chelsea's best player".Palmer is on billboards advertising the Club World Cup in United States host cities and been given the no10 shirt, once worn by the legendary Hazard.But when asked about his newfound fame, Palmer said: "Yes, I am just a normal kid so when people do stuff like [notice me], I think… why me?"Obviously in restaurants I get recognised. At the start, it was a bit wow, but now I get used to it. 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-a-side, PlayStation and go to the Astro [turf] and just do normal things [to take my mind of things]."It has been quick in terms of how fast it has happened but it is a nice feeling and if I keep performing and keep doing stuff hopefully it will get better and bigger."What highlights Palmer's change in status was he once messaged Hazard while an academy player in 2015. Of course, the message went unreplied and unread. When asked whether Hazard replied yet, Palmer said: "Nah," but added: "I have seen him a few times at the training ground. He asked me for one of my shirts for his sons."Palmer has also taken Hazard's iconic no10 shirt, explaining: "I wore no10 all my life growing up and I just like the number, so yes, it is an iconic number, which makes me think of Messi and Rooney."He is also seeing a team built around him with fellow Manchester City academy graduates, with Liam Delap – who joined in a £30m move from Ipswich - rekindling a former partnership from their youth days. They, along with Romeo Lavia, won Premier League 2 for the Under-23s in 2021 under now Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and Palmer explained: "I played with Liam for a number of years when he started at City. I just know where he is going to be, and I like to find him and hopefully I can assist him a lot this season."The Blues next face Flamengo in the Club World Cup in Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field and Palmer's uncle has provided some Brazilian knowledge. "My uncle has lived in Brazil for over 10 years and messaged me to say they are one of the biggest clubs in Brazil and please score," he continued. "Apparently, that's all they are talking about so I expect it will be a good game."