Cole Palmer caused an internet storm on Saturday afternoon as he was filmed dashing away from Stamford Bridge. 

The bizarre video, taken after he featured in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Everton, prompted a wave of speculation from fans: where on earth was Palmer going, and why was he in such a rush? 

Palmer was seen jogging away in a black hoodie and shorts, equipped with two mobile phones (one held to his ear), with a security guard in tow barging bemused fans out of the way.

The 22-year-old slalomed his way through supporters towards Fulham Road, with multiple supporters trying to keep up with him.

It was another tricky afternoon in one sense for Palmer, whose goal drought extended to 17 games while Nicolas Jackson bagged his first of the year, but viewers stumbling across the clip online were more obsessed with his off-field antics. 

‘Someone’s just called to tell him there’s a penalty nearby,’ speculated one fan on X. 

Fans were sent into a frenzy of speculation after seeing Cole Palmer running away from Stamford Bridge on Saturday

Fans were sent into a frenzy of speculation after seeing Cole Palmer running away from Stamford Bridge on Saturday

It came after Palmer played his part in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Everton in west London

It came after Palmer played his part in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Everton in west London 

Nicolas Jackson (left) scored his first goal of the year as Chelsea went fifth in the table

Nicolas Jackson (left) scored his first goal of the year as Chelsea went fifth in the table

‘Bro heard chippy chips were on sale two for one,’ said another.

‘Cole Palmer running for his Uber Eats,’ joked another.

‘Palmer looking like he’s just jibbed past security at Parklife,’ one quipped.

‘Lmao! The team bus left him behind. Man had to call the driver to wait for him at the next junction,’ one speculated, though that theory is easily dismissed due to Chelsea having played at home. 

‘When Uber driver says road is closed and he’s leaving in 2 mins,’ another guessed. 

Unfortunately, some comments carried an air of bitterness.  

‘Run faster than he did in the game today, he was missing all game, far better under (Mauricio) Poch(ettino),’ one said.

‘Jogging to Saudi hopefully,’ wrote another. 

Wherever he was going, Palmer was in a rush.

For the first time in his career, after a stunning first season and a half at Chelsea, Palmer has come under scrutiny after a dry patch in front of goal.  

He has still been a consistent presence in the Chelsea side and contributed in other ways, including assists, as Enzo Maresca’s side chase down a Champions League spot. 

Manager Maresca has insisted that Palmer’s scoring slump is a result of ‘mental’ factors rather than anything ‘technical’ or ‘tactical’.

‘For sure, it’s mental,’ he said on Friday. ‘I don’t think it’s tactical, I don’t think it’s technical, because Cole is still the same player that scored this season with us – 14 goals in the Premier League in 20 games. Cole is the same one.

‘The style of football we play is the same one. The manager is the same one. The club is the same one. So nothing changes around Cole and Cole doesn’t change. It’s just mentally in this moment.

‘We try always to set up our game to put our best player in a condition to be dangerous. We have done since we started. We are doing that every game.

‘If you go back game by game, he had at least every game one or two chances. It’s not about how the team is playing. Again, it’s the same one. If you want to see it as the team playing a different way, you’ve seen it that way, but the reality is not that.

‘The reality is that Cole is the same, the style of play is the same, the manager is the same, the club is the same. It’s just football that, in this moment, he is missing the goal. No more than that.’

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