is unsure whether Cole Palmer will stay at or leave with interest in the young forward rapidly growing.
The manager’s comments came after Palmer’s player of the match performance in on Wednesday night.
The 21-year-old started in Athens and scored to level the game 1-1 and send it to a penalty shootout which they won 5-4.
Earlier this month, he had come off the bench to score a stunning goal in the .
However, despite his recent heroics, the academy graduate has been tipped to leave the Etihad this summer, with both Brighton and interested in his services.
It was said that the Seagulls are looking at a loan deal for Palmer, while the Irons could potentially use the England U21 star as part of a deal that would send Lucas Paqueta the other way.
, suggesting he had a place in the squad due to the sale of Riyad Mahrez, and with , he’ll likely get even more opportunity to play.
But despite that, Guardiola is still suggesting that the forward could leave, though if he does it will be on a permanent basis.
He said: ‘I don’t know [if he will stay]. When we arrived I had the opinion that he wanted to leave but now I don’t know.
‘I don’t think a loan is going to happen. He’s going to stay or he’s going to be sold.
‘He showed character – it is not easy to play defenders like [Marcos] Acuna, a young player in these stages it’s not easy. He played good and made a fantastic goal too.’
Palmer, who also scored the winning goal at the Under-21 Euros final in the summer, dismissed suggestions he is playing the best football of his career so far, telling TNT Sports: ‘Not yet, it’s early in the season.
‘It’s one of the first games of the season. I have to kick on from here.’
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