João Pedro’s Message to Cole Palmer
The absence of Cole Palmer from the 2026 FIFA World Cup shocked the football world. The English star, considered one of Europe’s brightest young talents, was left out of the England squad, and one of the first people to react was João Pedro, his teammate at Chelsea, who even claimed Palmer could have been “the successor to Neymar” because of his creativity and quality on the pitch.
During an appearance on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, the Brazilian forward spoke about Palmer’s talent and admitted how impressed he has been since they started sharing the locker room.
“He’s magical. I told him, ‘Why don’t you come to Brazil? Because in Brazil we don’t have a player like that,’” João Pedro said jokingly, referring to the English midfielder’s unique and creative playing style.
Why They Were Left Out
Despite his undeniable talent, Palmer was left out of the “Three Lions” squad. According to Thomas Tuchel, the main reason was that the player is not currently in his best form, while the coaching staff is prioritizing players with greater tactical discipline and better physical condition over individual flair and improvisation.
Interestingly, João Pedro was also excluded from the Brazil national team roster. Carlo Ancelotti reportedly believed the striker was not performing at his highest level, despite scoring 20 goals for Chelsea during the season. The Italian manager is said to have prioritized Neymar, valuing not only his experience but also his leadership and influence inside the dressing room.
A Difficult Ending for Chelsea
The season at Chelsea did not help either player. The London club finished the campaign with a six-game losing streak, which negatively affected the perception of several players within the squad.
In Palmer’s case, his style of play does not seem to fully fit into Tuchel’s rigid tactical system. The Englishman often drifts out of position to receive the ball and create chances, something that does not completely convince the German coach. Meanwhile, João Pedro scored only once in his last nine matches for Chelsea and also dealt with physical issues toward the end of the season.
Now, both players will spend the summer away from the international spotlight and use the break to prepare calmly for next season. Both Palmer and João Pedro will look to regain prominence and earn their place back in their respective national teams ahead of the next European Championship and Copa América.
