Manchester United's new midfielder Mason Mount claims he left Chelsea because he realised he was not in the club's plans several months ago.
Mount signed a five-year contract with United on Wednesday for a reported initial fee of £55 million ($70 million). The England international's move to Old Trafford was reportedly sparked by an impasse in negotiations over a new deal at Stamford Bridge.
But Mount said he had the feeling Chelsea were willing to plan without him for the long-term, a suspicion that convinced him to join the Red Devils. "Several months ago I think it became clear that I wasn't in Chelsea's plans moving forward and once I knew that United were involved, my decision was made," Mount told MUTV. "It's a massive club, huge, iconic players have played here, and I wanted to be a part of that from the beginning.
Getting in early, ready for pre-season to start, was a main objective of mine as well." Mount spent 18 years with Chelsea and helped them win the Champions League in 2021 before suffering a dip in form last season as the Blues struggled through a turbulent campaign.