Cole Palmer has reportedly stated that he did not spoken to Mykhailo Mudryk prior to wearing the No. 10 shirt, but he intends to do so during their upcoming meeting.
Palmer, who wore the No. 20 shirt before the Club World Cup, has been Chelsea’s lucky charm in his first two seasons with the team.
The No. 10 jersey was once owned by Ukraine international Mudryk, who could be banned for up to four years after the Football Association charged him of doping on Wednesday after he tested positive on drugs.
According to The Evening Standard, when speaking to the media prior to Chelsea’s second Club World Cup group match against Flamengo on Friday, Palmer called the No. 10 “iconic.”
See Also: Barcelona Star ‘Betrayed’ By Teammate, ‘Threatens To Leave’ Following Huge Man United Offer
“I wore No10 all my life growing up and I just like the number,” he explained. “[Lionel] Messi the big one, [Wayne] Rooney and players like that — it’s an iconic number.
“I have not spoken to Misha [Mudryk] yet, but I will when the time is right. It is not really my place to get involved with him at the minute. I will speak to him.
”Speaking in a press conference ahead of the Flamengo match, Blues boss Enzo Maresca was asked whether he had a say in the transfer of the No10 shirt from Mudryk to Palmer.
“Was I involved in this decision? No, no, I don’t care about the numbers,” he said. “It’s a player matter. Is Cole good enough to wear the No10? Yes.”
COMMENTS