Rio Ferdinand Praises Manchester United’s Capture of Mason Mount and Ridicules Arsenal’s Chances of Signing Kylian Mbappe
Manchester United’s imminent capture of Mason Mount has been praised by former defender Rio Ferdinand, who believes the 24-year-old is a better signing than Arsenal new boy Kai Havertz. Ferdinand also ridiculed suggestions that the Gunners might sign PSG star Kylian Mbappe.
The England international is currently at Carrington undergoing a medical after the Red Devils agreed a £55million fee, plus a further £5m in add-ons, to sign him from Chelsea. Despite some claiming that United have overpaid for Mount, Ferdinand has hit back at those suggestions and reignited his feud with Arsenal fans in the process.
Speaking on his FIVE YouTube show, Ferdinand said: ‘I think Mason Mount is a very good signing. He’ll be a valuable member of the squad. He’s a good player, a top player, I love the way he plays football. Every manager he has had – as a guide – has been nothing but positive about him, has loved having him, has been integral to everything that they’ve done. He had injuries last season so he tailed off a little bit in terms of numbers but the two seasons he did well at Chelsea they won the Champions League in one of them.’
When it was suggested that Arsenal’s £65m deal for Havertz represented better value, Ferdinand retorted: ‘Kai Havertz didn’t do the numbers that we’re talking about! Kai Havertz has been bought based on last season, his numbers weren’t top, they weren’t great. If you’ve got the numbers Mason Mount had from the time Chelsea won the Champions League, and the season after, what would his valuation be? If you put it in that context, you can’t say that Mount is going to go for below Havertz. You’re smoking bro, no chance.’
Ferdinand also briefly spoke about Mbappe when going through the striker options he would like to see at Old Trafford, though felt he was not ‘gettable’. When rather spurious reports that Arsenal might try to sign the Frenchman were mentioned, Ferdinand laughed and said: ‘You man can’t get him either! Arsenal can’t get him either. Don’t even start thinking and dreaming. It’s a good dream!’
It is clear that Ferdinand is a big fan of Mount and believes he will be an important member of the United squad. With his experience and quality, it is easy to see why United have made him their priority signing this summer and why Ferdinand believes he is a better signing than Havertz. It remains to be seen if Mount can live up to the hype but it is clear that Ferdinand is confident he will be a success at Old Trafford.