Rene Meulensteen is in disarray over Manchester United's failure to sign a fan of the club in the form of Cole Palmer.
Palmer rose through the ranks of Manchester City as a youngster and was given rare opportunities under Pep Guardiola. Just when it looked like a more permanent place in the first team was about to emerge, the Englishman moved to Stamford Bridge in 2023 for £42.5 million.
Now the dynamic 22-year-old playmaker is one of the Premier League's brightest talents. He is helping his Chelsea side climb back up the table and rub salt in Pep Guardiola's wounds.
Meulensteen, who spent 12 years and two spells under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, has slammed his former employers for not pulling the trigger and signing Palmer, a youth Red Devils fan, for himself.
Comparing the selections and recruitment successes of both United and rivals City to OLBG, Meulensteen began: 'It's hypothetical, but can you imagine if Manchester United could get Erling Haaland, he would immediately add 25 or 30 goals. Then you look at Rodri, he would bring so much stability to midfield, and then Phil Foden, look how incredible he was last season.
“When it comes to missing players, look at Cole Palmer. Why did he end up at Chelsea when he is a Manchester United fan? Why didn't United sign him.”
United flaunted their wallets during the summer 2023 transfer window, although the £60m spent on Chelsea star Mason Mount – the player who effectively replaced Palmer in west London – has yet to yield any dividends.
As Meulensteen suggests, recruiting Wythenshawe-born Palmer (possibly into their youth academy as a youngster) would likely have changed United's fortunes, especially given the Englishman's affinity with the Red Devils.
“Yes, growing up I was a United fan,” Palmer told TNT Sports after scoring a hat-trick against Erik ten Hag's side in April last year. I just think I have to try to do the same thing every time.
'But I did score [at Old Trafford] and a few here [at Stamford Bridge] today, so I'm buzzing. “I just try to take each game as it comes and show the Chelsea fans and everyone what I came here for, and that's just to play football.”
Palmer's 13 league goals so far this Premier League season leaves his side in fourth place, with a solid chance of Champions League football and even an unlikely title challenge. United, on the other hand, are in fourteenth place, a world away from the heights expected of them.
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