England duo couldn't be further apart in race for Euro 2024 after Man City exits
They both came through the youth ranks at Manchester City, destined for great things from an early age.
They both left City because they were desperate to play more regularly and felt their chances of that were unlikely remaining as supporting cast members of Pep Guardiola's glittering squad. But while one is thriving in the Premier League and has just received his first England call-up, the other faces a bleak future, frozen out by his club and forced to train in exile.
The current plights of Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho could not be more different. While Palmer has made himself a key man for Chelsea since his summer move from City, Sancho's fall-out with Erik ten Hag has seen him become persona non grata at Manchester United.
Two years ago Sancho was a member of the England squad that lost the European Championship final to Italy on penalties to Italy, missing a spot-kick in the agonising shoot-out. Now he could not be further from the England set-up, having not played for United since August 26, after publicly disputing Ten Hag's reason for leaving him out of the squad to face Arsenal.
Banned from all first-team facilities, forced to train alone at the academy facilities, as well as eat alone and change alone, due to safeguarding issues, Sancho's has been a remarkable fall from grace. When he joined United from Borussia Dortmund in a £73million deal in the summer of 2021, it was against a backdrop of four formidable seasons in the Bundesliga.
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In 137 games for Dortmund, Sancho scored 50 goals and provided 64 assists, stats that made United's move for him a no-brainer, a virtual guarantee of success from a young player with his best years ahead of him. But the reality has been a disaster for United and Sancho. After 82 games, the 23-year-old has just 12 goals and six assists, a meagre return for the fourth most expensive signing in United's history.
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Jadon Sancho hasn't played for England since October 2021 (Getty Images)
Sancho is certain to be sold in January, having refused to publicly apologise to Ten Hag, with Juventus and clubs in the Saudi Pro League having offered him an escape route from his plight. Palmer, two years younger than Sancho at 21, has no such issues and has vindicated his bold decision to quit City – where he had been since the age of seven - for Chelsea in the summer.
He has made 10 Premier League appearances for Mauricio Pochettino's side this season, including six starts, and scored four goals – a 100 per cent record from the penalty spot. Palmer underlined his maturity and coolness under pressure by dispatching a 90th-minute penalty against his former club to earn Chelsea a thrilling 4-4 draw with the champions on Sunday.
His versatility – he can play up front, wide right, as a No.10 and as a deeper-lying midfielder – has made him a valuable asset for Pochettino and his England call-up is likely to be the first of many. Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate was sufficiently impressed by Palmer to hand him a first senior call-up, after Jude Bellingham withdrew from the squad because of injury.
Yet while Palmer is flying, Sancho is floundering. At 23, he should be entering the peak years of his career. Instead, he finds himself in football's version of solitary confinement, with no sign of a release any time soon.
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