Cucurella takes swipe at Palmer and says ‘there’s not much strength in his hair’

MARC CUCURELLA has sparked a banter battle of "Stamford Fringe" - with an odd comment about Chelsea team-mate Cole Palmer.

The Euro 2024 winner reckons England's brightest hope has just one flaw - but it's a mane weakness.

If Cucurella is to be believed, there's plenty of dazzle in Palmer's footwork, but not much frazzle in his hair.

The Spaniard himself sports one of football's most lavish curly mops.

And he's also courted controversy before, singing “Haaland trembles, Cucurella is coming” in his Euros celebration - with the Manchester City striker responding by scoring against him in the Premier League.

Now the wing-back has said of Palmer: "There’s not much strength in the hair, but if that’s his only problem, then he’s all right.”

But Cucurella's verdict came amid glowing praise to The Guardian for the 22-year-old.

Palmer came off the bench for the fifth time at the Euros to revive England with a classy late equaliser in the final, only for Spain to deservedly win 2-1.

And Cucurella's admiration has soared further since then.

Palmer has notched six goals and five assists in seven Prem matches so far this term.

That means from a career total of 59 top-flight games he's netted 28 times and notched  17 assists.

Cucurella said: "If you see him not in his kit you would never in your life say he was a footballer, but then on the pitch … he shoots and it doesn’t seem like he is hitting it hard but he scores them all. 

"He’s very different. I don’t know how to explain it: he’s special. We’re very lucky we have him. 

"We’re lucky he didn’t play much in the Euros either because he came on and almost messed it up for us. 

"If he carries on like this, he’ll be among the best."

And despite Cucurella's misgivings about Palmer's hair, it was the starlet's parting - from Manchester City in September 2023 - that super-charged his rise.

It also means he's suddenly regarded as a key Three Lions player.

Interim chief Lee Carsley is expected to hand Palmer his fourth England start in Sunday's Nations League clash in Finland, following Thursday's 2-1 Wembley defeat against Greece.