Trevoh Chalobah has expressed his disappointment at Mason Mount’s impending transfer to Manchester United. He made this known in a tweet as the deal nears completion.
Chalobah and Mount have been teammates since a young age, progressing through the club’s youth ranks together.
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Chalobah followed in Mount’s footsteps to reach the first team at Stamford Bridge.
Mount, who joined Chelsea at the age of six, is now on the verge of leaving the club in a £60 million deal with Manchester United.
Chelsea’s fortunes declined last season amidst a change in ownership, and they were unable to persuade Mount to sign a new contract.
Reports suggest that three attempts were made to secure a new deal for the 24-year-old, but no agreement could be reached.
This situation created the possibility of Mount leaving on a free transfer next summer.
Joining Manchester United became an attractive option for him due to their Champions League qualification and playing style under manager Erik ten Hag.
Despite understanding Mount’s reasons for leaving, Chalobah expressed his disappointment in a tweet posted on Thursday after the news broke.
He wrote, “My boy” along with a crying emoji and a broken heart symbol.
My boy 😢💔
— Trevoh Chalobah (@TrevohChalobah) June 29, 2023
Chalobah himself has been linked with a potential move away, with Inter Milan reportedly interested in signing the defender.
The 23-year-old made 25 Premier League appearances last season, earning a regular spot in the team under interim manager Frank Lampard, who took charge in April following Graham Potter’s dismissal.
Chalobah and Reece James have emerged as part of an impressive group of young players from the Chelsea academy in recent years.
Prior to them, it had been 20 years since John Terry became the last academy graduate to establish himself as a regular in the first team.
Mauricio Pochettino was believed to have wanted to retain Mount, recognizing his exceptional skill set and pressing style, which aligns with Pochettino’s approach.
However, the decision to let Mount go was likely taken by the Chelsea hierarchy to avoid losing him for free when his contract expires next summer.
The opportunity to play in the Champions League likely played a significant role in Mount’s departure.
There was no guarantee that Pochettino could guide Chelsea to a top-four finish in his first season, prompting Mount to make a difficult decision.
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Manchester United’s system, tailored to his skills as a number eight, was more favorable to him than the positions he had been deployed in under Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.
During his time at Chelsea, Mount made 195 first-team appearances, contributing 33 goals and 37 assists. He also won the club’s Player of the Season award on two occasions.
