Mason Mount: From Recreating Ronaldo’s Free-Kick to Joining Manchester United
Mason Mount is a name that has been on the lips of football fans for a while now. The young midfielder has been making waves in the Premier League since his debut for Chelsea in 2019. But what many people don’t know is that Mount has been a fan of Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo since he was a boy.
Mount grew up in Portsmouth, and as a boyhood Pompey fan, he was in the stands at Fratton Park when Ronaldo scored his iconic free-kick against Portsmouth in 2008. The young Mount was inspired by Ronaldo’s skill and technique and spent hours trying to recreate the goal.
An unearthed clip of a very young Mount shows him talking to the camera before placing the ball down for a free-kick in training. “I try to base my free-kicks on Ronaldo,” a mop-haired Mount explained. “Hit the ball by the valve and it moves. That’s all you do. Top corner, top bins.” And sure enough, the youngster does not miss and the ball flies into the exact spot where he wanted it to.
Speaking about watching Ronaldo in the flesh at Fratton Park, Mount recalled: “I remember watching Cristiano Ronaldo and he scored this unbelievable free-kick – it was one of the best goals I’ve ever seen live. It was great for me to watch him as one of the best players in the world and that really motivated me as a young boy.”
Now, years later, Mount might finally get the chance to truly recreate Ronaldo’s free-kick as a move to Man United nudges closer. Despite coming up through the Chelsea academy, Mount has already agreed personal terms with United, and any allegiance to Chelsea appears to have been scrapped.
Chelsea recently turned down a £50million bid from the Red Devils but they are open to selling the midfielder after he refused to sign a new contract. The Blues are asking for closer to £70m but there is room for compromise after Erik ten Hag made the 24-year-old a top target to bolster his midfield.
Liverpool and Arsenal had been interested in signing the England international – but maybe the allure of copying that Ronaldo goal in the red of United might just have played its part – as long as it is not against his beloved Portsmouth.
In conclusion, Mason Mount’s journey from a young boy in the stands at Fratton Park to a potential Manchester United star is a testament to the power of inspiration and hard work. His admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and his dedication to perfecting his free-kick technique has paid off, and he may soon get the chance to put it to use in the red of United. With his talent and determination, there’s no doubt that Mount will continue to make waves in the Premier League for years to come.