Man Utd Boss Ten Hag Claims Chelsea ‘Didn’t Want To Sell’ Mount

Erik ten Hag has sensationally revealed that Chelsea “did not want to sell” Mason Mount, as he backed the midfielder to make it “big” at Old Trafford.

The summer of last year saw the England international transfer to Old Trafford for £60 million ($76 million), capping months of drawn-out contract negotiations with the Blues. While many conjectured that Chelsea saw a chance to cash in on their academy product to relieve financial strains due to Mount’s history of injuries, Mount himself made references to feeling unwelcome at Stamford Bridge. He stated in a July 2023 interview with MUTV, “Several months ago, it became clear I wasn’t in Chelsea’s plans going forward.”

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Ten Hag argues that, in contrast to common opinion, Chelsea made many attempts to keep Mount, including multiple contracts offers. Mount ultimately made the decision to join Manchester United by expressing a desire to pursue new chances.

Speaking to reporters, Ten Hag said: “I don’t think Chelsea wanted to sell him. They wanted to keep him and offered him a new contract many times. But he wanted to make this step.

“He’s a fantastic football player. It’s important first that he’s getting and keeping fit. You see it now with Licha (Martinez), you want to avoid that. So you have to do it very carefully. We want to use him so he can have benefit and have a contribution to the team, as he did on Saturday.”

Mount’s move to United has not been easy; thus yet, he has only made nine Premier League games due to injury. But his recent play, which included opening his goal-scoring account in a 1-1 draw with Brentford, shows that he has what it takes to be a major contributor to the Red Devils.

“I am sure he will contribute and he will become a big player for Man United,” Ten Hag said.

“I was so happy for him. But so sorry for him also that it wasn’t the winner. He deserved that moment of glory, maybe it was such a small moment but, for a player who came in and suffered so many injuries and worked so hard all the time, and had so many setbacks, it was so frustrating. And then you think you’ve scored a winner so we were disappointed when we conceded that goal that makes it 1-1. It makes a totally different mood, as you can imagine.”

Ten Hag has the challenge of leading a club beset by injuries to important players as United gets ready to meet Chelsea. This could, however, present Mount with a chance to start in the lineup for Thursday night’s eagerly awaited matchup between the two Premier League heavyweights.