Cole Palmer opened up about Mason Greenwood in brutally honest conversation as footage resurfaces

Cole Palmer named Mason Greenwood as one of the five best players he ever faced on the field in footage from 2020 that recently resurfaced on social media. Four years ago, the 22-year-old striker was a Manchester City prospect patiently waiting for his opportunity under Pep Guardiola.

Since leaving the Etihad Stadium for Chelsea in a £42.5 million deal last summer, Palmer has become one of the most dangerous players in Europe.

Palmer has scored 36 goals and registered 21 assists in 64 appearances since the start of last season, proving to be a case of 'the one that got away' for Guardiola.

The Chelsea talisman made his senior debut for City in September 2020, a 3-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor in the Carabao Cup.

That same year, he took over the Rising Ballers Instagram account for a brief question-and-answer session, during which he was asked about the best players he faced on the field.

One of those he credited was Greenwood, who at the time was making headlines after bursting onto the scene at Manchester United.

The 23-year-old made his debut in March 2019 and has made 129 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 35 goals.

Amid Greenwood's exciting breakthrough, Palmer said: “Mason Greenwood from Man United, Brian Brobbey from Ajax, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mohamed Ihattaren from PSV and Ansu Fati from Barcelona.”

Greenwood was on a meteoric trajectory before he was arrested and later charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behavior and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The former United number 11 denied all charges, and the British Crown Prosecution Service later dropped them due to a “combination of the removal of key witnesses and new evidence”.

Erik ten Hag and the club's former football decision-makers were reportedly open to returning to Greenwood this summer before internal and external backlash forced a U-turn.

However, he would never play for the club again, spending last season on loan at Getafe before completing a £27 million move to Marseille in the summer.

Greenwood has enjoyed an impressive start to life in France, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in his first 13 appearances.

It remains to be seen whether the promising striker would have reached the heights Palmer is currently enjoying had he remained at United.

But Alejandro Garnacho and Amad filled the void left by Greenwood in attack, and the Red Devils inserted a sell-on clause to take advantage of a future sale.