He cost Man United $69 million and took Cristiano’s No7 jersey – then things went wrong

Mason Mount joined Manchester United as a rising star of English soccer. He was handed Cristiano Ronaldo›s iconic jersey and was expected to be part of a bold rebuild of one of the biggest franchises in sport.

Then things went badly wrong.

“It has been difficult, but I have learned a lot from these moments,” said Mount ahead of United’s Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao on Wednesday.

A slew of injuries of injuries has limited the midfielder to just 12 Premier League starts in two seasons since his $69 million move from Chelsea in 2023.

In that time he’s had to watch on as United’s onfield decline has continued at an alarming rate, with the 20-time English champion certain to end this season with its lowest points total and league position in the Premier League era.

The Europa League, however, presents an unlikely chance to salvage a historically bad campaign with a major trophy and entry into next season’s Champions League.

For Mount, who has returned to fitness and form in recent weeks, it is the sort of opportunity he has craved after two years of pain and frustration at Old Trafford.

For United, it is simply a lifeline.

“As a group, we know the situation we are in. We know the league is not good enough and we have not been good enough in that, but the Europa League is something that we look forward to as a final,” Mount said. “We won’t forget about what we have done in the league and our league form.

“This is a final. If we can win it, it can be a positive end to a tough season.”

Struggles

Mount’s difficulties at United have been in stark contrast to his time at Chelsea, where he was treated as a hero after rising through its academy and providing the assist for Kai Havertz’s winning goal in the Champions League final of 2021.

He became a key part of England’s squad, which was runner up at the Euros that year, and started the final against Italy at Wembley.

It was a measure of how highly United regarded Mount that he was handed the No7 jersey worn by club greats Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Ronaldo.

But instead of going on to create his own memorable moments with the famous number on his back, Mount has watched as United’s plummeting form cost former manager Erik ten Hag his job and left current coach Ruben Amorim to preside over the club’s worst campaign in Premier League history.

Massive honor

In recent weeks, however, Mount has shown flashes of the ability that convinced United to sign him — not least his two goals against Athletic Bilbao in the semifinals of the Europa League.

His second, a shot from just past the halfway line, was befitting of the number he wears.

“I want to score goals, I want to have them moments,” he said. “I just haven’t had a lot of opportunities to do that, so any time I’m on the pitch I want to show them what I can do. I want to create chances for my teammates and win games and win trophies.

Europa League

The Europa League final is the chance for United and Tottenham to put their woeful domestic campaigns behind them.

United is 16th in the 20-team standings — one place above Spurs.

But the winner of the final will gain entry to the lucrative Champions League alongside Europe’s top teams. JAMES ROBSON, MANCHESTER, MDT/AP