Mason Mount’s transition to Manchester United has not yielded the expected results for both the player and the club. Reports suggest that the transfer may have been influenced by factors other than sporting ambitions.
Last summer, Mount ended his tenure with Chelsea and joined United for £60 million after negotiations to renew his contract with Chelsea stalled.
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Despite interest from top clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool, Mount committed to United with a five-year deal worth £250,000 per week, plus an additional year’s option.
Mount, at 25, was the first acquisition for Erik ten Hag last summer. However, his contribution has been limited due to recurring injuries, culminating in only 12 appearances across all tournaments. His most recent game was against Luton in November, after which he sustained a training injury.
A report from the Manchester Evening News has cast uncertainty over the true reasons for Mount’s move, hinting at a teammate’s influence on the decision.
They claim that a ‘source close to one of the United players claims that the deal was not for football reasons’.
Upon moving north, Mount conceded that ‘it is never easy leaving the club where you grew up’ after he came through the ranks at Chelsea from the age of six and spending 18 years there.
And the MEN stated that ‘United staff said Mount was sensitive about his Chelsea exit’, noting that he hasn’t done any media outside of the Red Devils’ official channels since joining the club.
Manchester United’s number 7 was absent from the 2-1 victory against his previous team in December at Old Trafford because of an injury. During the match, a portion of the visiting supporters from his old club called him a ‘t**t’ and a ‘money-grabbing w***er’ among their chants.
Former Chelsea star John Terry has publicly called for a more understanding attitude towards the player’s transfer, emphasizing the need for sympathy last September: ‘There’s another side to the story. Let’s not be too harsh on him when he comes back.’
After a four-month recovery from a calf injury, Mount rejoined the team’s training sessions on Tuesday. He is expected to regain full fitness in time for United’s upcoming Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on April 4.
Asked about Mount’s fitness before Saturday’s win over Everton, Ten Hag said: ‘Mason Mount I think he is in a good spell now and he will return shortly, I think after the international break.’
Erik ten Hag played a significant role in recruiting Mount, providing him with a detailed plan of his role in the squad for the season.
Both the manager and Mount are optimistic that this plan will come to fruition as the season enters its crucial stages.
