Conor Gallagher has shared an emotional farewell message to Crystal Palace fans on Instagram following his return to parent club Chelsea.
The 22-year-old midfielder arrived at Selhurst Park on loan from the Blues last summer and quickly became a fans' favourite thanks to his eye-catching performances from midfield. His eye for a goal and tireless work rate in midfield quickly saw him win the club’s player of the month awards for August and September before earning his first senior England call-up in November.
Gallagher was voted Palace’s player of the season at their awards night in May and finished the season having scored eight goals and contributed five assists in 39 appearances for the Eagles. He is now set to return to Chelsea for pre-season but not before linking up with the Three Lions once again for their UEFA Nations League games against Hungary, Germany and Italy.
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Blues boss Thomas Tuchel has made it clear he has plans for Gallagher for next season, leaving the chances of him returning to SE25 for a second loan spell unlikely at this stage. Instead, the midfielder has penned a farewell message to Palace and the club’s supporters and shared how much Patrick Vieira has helped improve his game.
His post read: “I’m so proud to have been part of this team in which was a very successful season in the league and getting to Wembley for the FA cup semi-final was amazing. From my first contact with Patrick, he’s been brilliant with me and helped me develop into a better player, for which I can’t thank him enough.
“The players and staff have made me feel like I’ve been here for years and the fans have made me feel so at home. Your support helped us in tough games this season and it can make all the difference! I’ve given everything this season for the club and was delighted to be the supporters player of the year, thank you all so much for your support. It’s been so special to play for this great club. Hopefully, I showed that in my performances on the pitch and how proud I was to wear the shirt. Thank you.”
Vieira has regularly been asked throughout the season over the possibility of bringing Gallagher back to south London for another year in red and blue, though the Frenchman has always been clear that the decision lies with the player and his parent club rather than Palace. He has repeatedly said that the Cobham academy graduate needs game time in order to fulfil his potential however, which is something he will be assured of with the Eagles.
“A lot has been said already,” the Palace boss said last month. “He’s been playing, I believe, his best football at this club, which allowed him to go with England. It will be important for him to ask a question about what will be the next step for him and the next step may be at Chelsea because he has to go back and see how things will go for him.
“Of course we are, and I am, really pleased with the year we spent together. He’s been really good to us and we will have to wish him good luck if he goes back to Chelsea. If there’s a possibility to bring him back, we will definitely talk about it.”
