When it was confirmed that Chelsea were negotiating with Manchester United to sell them Mason Mount, many pundits questioned the logic behind it.
Mount, a homegrown player who was seen as a Chelsea boy through and through having come through the academy, was the type of player that many felt would shine under a manager like Mauricio Pochettino.
However, the relationship between Mount and the Stamford Bridge side was cut short when he was sold to United in the summer.
After Chelsea legend John Terry commented that there was more to the departure than meets the eye, journalist Ben Jacobs provided an insight as to what happened between the player and the club.
“Former Chelsea captain John Terry has suggested in the last few days that there is an ‘untold’ story to Mason Mount’s Chelsea departure,” Jacobs wrote in his Daily Briefing Substack.
“Chelsea’s position is that Mount wanted to leave and thus made it clear he wouldn’t sign a new long-term deal.
“But the Mount camp tell a slightly different story.
“They argue verbal talks last year with Chelsea’s owners were positive and progress had been made.
“Then in January, they claim goalposts moved. Chelsea’s co-sporting director Paul Winstanley took over negotiations and offered a short-term contract instead.
“Chelsea sources maintain the aim was to get Mount to extend and protect his value, buying time to ultimately find a long-term solution that suited all parties.
“This is again disputed by those close to Mount, who argue a lot of hard work done in late 2022 was undone almost overnight and with very little two-way conversation.
“The reality is the parties were far apart on terms and contract length and although they agreed to pick things up again at the end of the season, when Mount left for Manchester United he didn’t have a new Chelsea counter on the table to consider.
“Chelsea sources insist this was because it was clear Mount wanted to leave.
“The Mount side say they would have considered staying if they club made clear and formal attempts to try and keep the England midfielder.
“The saga definitely has two sides and now Mount has moved to Old Trafford we may never know the truth.
“Chelsea will always say they sold a player who wanted a new challenge that was right for him and his family, and Mount can’t really state he would have preferred to stay at Stamford Bridge now that he’s a Manchester United player.
“So both sides have to just move on. And it’s worth pointing out there’s still great respect for Mount at Chelsea, and several senior players desperately wanted him to stay.”
It seems those within the Stamford Bridge dressing room did not want to see the England international move on from the club.
Despite their preference, it seems that the club were happy to let Mount go and it showed in the way that they dealt with the player from the moment Paul Winstanley took over negotiations.
United fans will hope that Chelsea’s loss is United’s gain.
Mount is still coming to grips with playing at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag and MUFC fans will hope that he showcases why the club were so desperate to get him once he returns from his injury layoff.
