Sergio Gomez SLAMS Man City team-mate after Euros final loss

Cameron Smith

Updated: 9 Jul 2023 11:43 BST
3 min read

Sergio Gomez, Cole Palmer, Man City — © ProShots

Manchester City star Sergio Gomez has taken aim at his club team-mate Cole Palmer for his antics during the U21 European Championship final.

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England ran out victorious in a 1-0 win over Spain in the competition’s final on Saturday, with the Young Lions’ goal coming via a Palmer free-kick, which deflected off Curtis Jones and spun into the back of Arnau Tenas’ net.

Palmer initially thought it was his goal and his celebration, aimed in the direction of Spain's bench, caused a brawl between the two sets of players and coaching staff. The start of the incident wasn’t picked by TV cameras in Georgia, but it appeared as though Palmer’s celebration sparked the incident.

Both Levi Colwill and Oihan Sancet were booked for their involvement in the stir-up, while England coach Ashley Cole and a member of Spain’s backroom team were both sent off from the bench.

James Trafford saved Abel Ruiz’s 95th minute penalty to seal victory for England, who claimed glory in the U21 Euros for the third time in their history.

But, Spain’s Gomez, who played as a left winger and was the tournament’s joint-top scorer with three goals, was not happy with the attitude of his City club-mate Palmer, and the rest of the England squad.

© ProShots - Cole Palmer, Manchester City

What did Gomez say?

In the aftermath of Spain’s 1-0 loss, Gomez told Cadena SER: “It surprised me [Palmer’s attitude]. He didn’t want to apologise or anything like some of his other team-mates. I don’t know, I would have celebrated it in a different way and my team-mates would have done it in a different way as well.

“They [England] have the attitude they want. This isn’t the first time this has happened. We’ve tried to represent our country in the best way and have utmost respect for rivals. They wanted to celebrate like this and after the penalty.”

England’s victory in the U21 Euros follows their triumph in both the U19 European Championship and the Women’s European Championship last summer.