Mason Mount has trained as a Manchester United player for the first time following completion of his £55m transfer from Chelsea.
Mount was unveiled by United on Wednesday. He was also confirmed as the club’s new number seven, the first player to occupy the famous shirt Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford under a cloud in November – the England star will be hoping to break the jersey’s 14-year ‘curse’.
Bizarrely, Chelsea refused to acknowledge the club Mount had joined in their statement confirming his departure. A heartfelt message from Mount to Chelsea fans was also heavily criticised by angry supporters claiming it lacked sincerity given it appeared to have been filmed several weeks earlier when he was sporting a different hair colour.
Mount will complement a midfield group of Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro this coming season as United look to restore their status among the best in Europe and took to the pitch at Carrington for the first time on Friday morning as the squad reported for day one of pre-season.
The 24-year-old was pictured in his training kit, complete with a small number seven on the front, and took part in the various drills under the eye of the coaching staff. One particular image of him arm in arm with new teammate Lisandro Martinez is already popular with fans on social media.
Mount and the rest of the squad will soon kick off a busy pre-season programme that starts with a friendly against Leeds in Norway next Wednesday, a game that is expected to provide his unofficial debut for the club and first run out in United colours.
A week later comes an Edinburgh friendly against Lyon, before flying out to the United States for tour games against Arsenal, Wrexham, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. Further friendlies against Lens at Old Trafford and Athletic Bilbao in Dublin complete the summer. Eight days after playing Ireland, United start the Premier League season at home to Wolves on 14 August.
What we know
- Man Utd players reported for pre-season duty on Friday morning
- Mason Mount trained for the first time
- England star completed £55m transfer from Chelsea this week
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