Manchester United finally got their deal for Mason Mount over the line this week - but it is unclear whether Roy Keane is a fan or not.
The England midfielder moved to Old Trafford from Chelsea in a £55m switch earlier this week, putting pen-to-paper on a five-year contract with the option of an extra season. He becomes Erik ten Hag’s first signing of the summer and is likely to have a key role in the heart of United’s midfield.
Whilst some have praised Mount’s signing, it is unclear over which side of the fence Red Devils icon Roy Keane sits on. The Irishman has shared a few contrasting opinions on the 24-year-old since his breakthrough at Chelsea.
Take a look at his standout quotes here:
Mount “next level” - November 2020
A year-and-a-half after Mount’s initial breakthrough into the Chelsea team, the midfielder was already receiving criticism from some supporters. It had bizarrely come in the face of a series of impressive performances for the Blues.
Keane was left baffled and leapt to Mount’s defence. “This boy [Mount] I really like him, he’s got so much going for him,” Keane said. “He always steps to the next level.
“He scores goals, assists, [can] see a pass, I like everything about him. Apparently there’s critics on social media, I don’t follow social media thank god but I really like the look of this kid.”
Is Mason Mount a good signing for Man United? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Paul Scholes comparison - March 2021
Keane continued to be a fan of Mount as he added more experience under his belt. The former Derby County loanee remained a key part of the Chelsea side at first under Frank Lampard and then under Thomas Tuchel.
Keane was not surprised to see Mount retain that role having compared him to one of his former United teammates, Paul Scholes. As quoted by Sky Sports, he said: "We’ve been praising this lad now for the last number of years
"The way he plays the game, almost like Paul Scholes, plays like a kid on the street, it all comes very easy for him. Good first touch, seems an honest kid, he has a goal in him, he has an assist.
“There’s no surprise this lad is playing, when the manager came he would have had a look at him before. You get a better look when you work with the lads closely and again, no surprise that he’s going to go for this lad in most of the big games because he can trust him."
“Idiots” blast - April 2021
With Mount having continued to cop some slight criticism for his role in the England set-up under Gareth Southgate, Keane remained one of his defenders over two years ago. He savaged the midfielder’s critics ahead of a victory over Poland.
"Well that is pretty important, that your manager likes you," Keane said. "Doesn’t matter what people outside the game think, there are a lot of idiots out there.
"Ultimately, I think the players pick the team and he has performed well enough for every manager to say, ‘listen, you are going to be in my starting line-up’. Outstanding player. He wants to be an all-round midfielder.
"I never hear anything negative about him off the pitch, he seems a brilliant young kid, he has gone out on loan [to Vitesse and Derby], he has done it the hard way."
“Off the boil” - May 2023
As Mount’s performances at Stamford Bridge suffered, it appeared that Keane’s opinions of the Chelsea star also lowered. After he was initially linked with a move to Old Trafford, the Irishman still suggested that he was a fan but wasn’t too convinced about the Red Devils splashing the cash on his signature.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "I wouldn’t be so sure about Mount. He’s gone off the boil a little bit. I know he can bounce back and he’s got qualities, I was raving about him a few years ago but he’s just gone missing this last year or two, again, one or two injuries, the fact he can’t get in a bad Chelsea team.”
“Gone missing” (again) - June 2023
Keane doubled down on his thoughts that Mount would not be a transformative signing for his former club ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
"I wouldn’t be hanging my hat too much on Mason Mount, in terms of improving United and closing the gap,” he added. “I think he’s a good player but would he improve Manchester United? I’m not so sure. He’s just gone missing this last year or two."
