Graeme Souness has publicly claimed that England star Cole Palmer was "extremely rude" during a personal encounter in Dubai earlier this year. The Scotland icon praised Palmer's maverick ability on the pitch but expressed disappointment over their meeting.
Souness Reveals Dubai Restaurant Incident
Speaking on Sports Uncensored with Simon Jordan, Souness said: "I think he's outstanding (as a player). I don't know what his character is, I got a little insight into that in Dubai in February where he was extremely rude to someone in a restaurant." The 73-year-old did not provide further details about the incident.
Palmer, now 24, was notably excluded from Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup alongside Phil Foden. Despite the snub, England initially performed well before Tuchel adopted a defensive approach against Argentina in Wednesday's semi-final in Atlanta, which led to their elimination.
Souness Criticizes Declan Rice
Souness also delivered a scathing assessment of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, suggesting he lacks sufficient football ability. "Declan Rice, for me, limited. You hear people talk about Declan Rice, 'a world-class footballer', I think he might be a centre-half," Souness stated.
The comments come amid widespread debate over England's performance at the World Cup and Tuchel's tactical decisions. Souness' remarks have sparked reactions from fans and pundits alike, with many questioning the timing and validity of his claims.
