'Haven't received the receipt!' - Cole Palmer ignites cold war with Valencia star Diego Lopez after trying to trademark iconic goal celebration

Palmer has found himself at the centre of a growing controversy after attempting to trademark his signature "cold" celebration - a gesture he has made his own since bursting onto the Premier League scene with Chelsea. The move, however, has not gone down well with Valencia winger Diego Lopez, who insists he was performing the same celebration long before Palmer made it mainstream.

The dispute dates back to when Palmer officially submitted an application to the European Union Intellectual Property Office to secure exclusive rights to the celebration. At the time, his decision followed a trend among high-profile players, including Jude Bellingham, who also sought to trademark his personal goal celebration.

But Lopez, who has been showcasing the same "cold" stance on the pitch since as early as 2022, has repeatedly made his discontent public. He even posted a photo of himself on Christmas Day last year doing the now-contentious celebration well before Palmer’s first appearance with it in Chelsea’s 3-2 win over Luton Town back in December 2023.

Speaking to Spanish media outlet Relevo, Lopez addressed the ongoing saga with a hint of sarcasm and defiance.

“I haven’t received the receipt yet… I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t have my address, because they haven’t given it to him or why," he said. "If you want, I can explain that I have been doing this celebration for four years and I will continue to do it. In fact, I hope to do it more often because it will mean that I have scored a lot of goals.”

Adding fuel to the fire is Lopez’s current run of form. The 22-year-old has scored four times in his last four outings for Valencia, using the same celebration on each occasion.

Palmer’s adaptation of the celebration appears to have been inspired by former Manchester City youth teammate Morgan Rogers, who was seen performing the gesture during his time with Middlesbrough.

What was once just a personal expression of scoring a goal has now become a symbol of competition beyond the pitch - a contest not just for goals, but for originality and recognition. Whether Palmer chooses to reach out or ignore the commentary altogether remains to be seen. He will be back in action on Sunday against Brentford in the Premier League, whereas, Lopez will be aiming to perform the celebration at the Santiago Bernabeu when Valencia faces Real Madrid on Saturday in La Liga.