Eden Hazard sends clear message to Cole Palmer after taking Chelsea’s number 10 shirt
Cole Palmer has followed in the footsteps of one of his Premier League idols by changing his shirt number at Chelsea after two seasons at the club.
Palmer will now wear the number 10 shirt at Stamford Bridge, previously donned by club legend Eden Hazard after he began life as number 17.
The current star has a large admiration for the Belgian. Palmer named Hazard in his Mount Rushmore for Premier League players.
The England international is currently having a similar importance on his side that the winger used to have in West London, and has therefore been recognised as such with a typically crucial number.
This was the case in 2013 when Hazard took the shirt from the recently departed Juan Mata, after reports that he could be leaving the club amid interest from PSG.
The Belgian told The Guardian that he was taking the number of one of his footballing idols, similarly to what Palmer is doing now.
He said: “I am very pleased to be able to wear the No10 for Chelsea. It is my favourite number and is one I am used to wearing for the national team, as well as the one worn by some of my heroes from when I was a kid, like Zinedine Zidane.
“I hope it brings me a lot of luck in the future and I look forward to the fans seeing me in it next season.”
He will be looking to form a strong partnership with new signing Liam Delap, after he was officially unveiled as a new player for the club.
Delap is the new Chelsea number nine, with him becoming the latest to try and break the curse that shirt has brought on players before him.
Chelsea fans can be encouraged by the great record Delap and Palmer have together from their time at Manchester City, and there will be hopes that the same can occur starting with the Club World Cup later this month. Delap is eligible to compete.
However, Eden Hazard has encouraged Cole Palmer to be more brave and show the world how big the number10 is at Chelsea
Eden Hazard said: “Number 10 shirt at Chelsea is not an ordinary shirt you need to show the world you can handle it and go out there and win the Champions League for Chelsea with the number 10, shirt” He added