Cole Palmer picks troubled ex-Man United player in dream 5-a-side team featuring Lionel Messi

One former Manchester United player and no old Manchester City team-mates feature in the ideal 5-a-side team selected by Cole Palmer, while the Chelsea star even included himself

Cole Palmer has picked Manchester United academy graduate Ravel Morrison in his ideal five-a-side team ahead of any former Manchester City team-mates.

Both players were born in Wythenshawe, albeit almost a decade apart. Palmer notably grew up as a United fan around the time Morrison made his three three-team appearances for the club.

They also appear to be friends despite never playing alongside or against each other during their careers, with Palmer cracking a smile after selecting Morrison.

Both follow one another on social media, and Morrison even posted about Palmer receiving his first England call-up back in November 2023.

After sharing a photo of Palmer posted by the England account after the announcement, Morrison added the following caption: "Told him he's in the next England squad, he didn't think I was being serious! Congratulations, bro, truly deserved!"

Palmer also named himself in his ideal five-a-side team after being asked by Chelsea in a YouTube Short.

First, however, he selected a goalkeeper and chose Thibaut Courtois, whom Palmer has also never played with or against.

However, he has got to watch the Belgium international up close on several occasions.

Those chances as part of the City matchday squad when they played Real Madrid five times during the Champions League knockout stages between 2020 and 2023.

The first outfield player selected was Lionel Messi. He also played against City while Palmer was at the club, for Paris Saint-Germain during the group stages in November 2021, with the academy graduate again an unused substitute.

Neymar also featured in that match, whom Palmer picked next. However, neither he nor Messi scored PSG's only goal of that game, as it was Kylian Mbappe who opened the scoring before Raheem Sterling equalised, and then Gabriel Jesus got the winner.

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