Cole Palmer has revealed he has trademarked his signature "cold" goal celebration and joked that new Chelsea teammate Morgan Rogers could face legal action if he uses it without permission. Palmer, however, indicated that he is open to sharing the celebration with his close friend.
"I've trademarked it so if he tries to do anything, he'll have the bailiffs at his door," Palmer said during an interview in Sydney, Australia. He quickly added, "Nah, we'll do it together, I think." Palmer confirmed that he and Rogers have not explicitly discussed sharing the celebration but acknowledged that both have used it. He admitted to texting Rogers frequently when Chelsea was pursuing his transfer from Aston Villa.
"He was probably sick of me but at least he’s here now!" Palmer stated. "Morgs told me straightaway when he was coming. It didn’t get leaked. Nobody knew. Just me and him and the higher people at the club."
Palmer described Rogers' transfer, reportedly for £117 million, as a "next-level" acquisition by Chelsea. The midfielder expressed his happiness at having his boyhood friend join him at the club, noting their shared history in Manchester City's academy. He differentiated their playing styles, with Rogers being more physical and adept at driving with the ball, while Palmer prefers passing.
The interview also touched upon Palmer's disappointment at not being selected for the recent World Cup squad. "If someone told you that you're essentially not good enough to get in the squad, then you’re going to think, like, alright, whatever then, try to go that extra bit harder," he commented on the motivation this has provided for the upcoming season.
Palmer spent seven weeks on an off-season break, which he described as a much-needed period of rest and recovery after several consecutive years of playing without a significant break, including participating in the Under 21 Euros, the Euros, and the Club World Cup in previous years. He admitted to feeling bored towards the end of his break, even considering a return to training.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso communicated with Palmer during his time off, offering support after the World Cup omission. Palmer praised Alonso and his staff, calling them "a breath of fresh air with his ideas."
Palmer's previous season was hampered by a groin injury that disrupted his campaign and led to Chelsea finishing 10th in the Premier League, missing out on European qualification. He found it difficult to cope with being sidelined, admitting, "I didn’t really know how to deal with it." He revealed that he considered surgery and sought advice in Scandinavia but ultimately decided against it.
Feeling fit again, Palmer is ready for the new season, and Alonso has indicated he sees Palmer playing in a No. 10 role, operating in pockets of space close to the striker. "When you sign good players, obviously your team is going to be better. It should be a good season," Palmer concluded.