Mason Mount, the 27-year-old midfielder who joined Manchester United from Chelsea for £55m in 2023, has been handed the captain's armband in pre-season and is forging a promising partnership with new signing Andrey Santos — potentially solving a midfield puzzle that has dominated Old Trafford's summer. With £83m already spent on Santos (from Chelsea) and Youri Tielemans (from Aston Villa), and with Manuel Ugarte out for months with a knee injury and Casemiro departing when his contract expired in June, United were expected to add a third midfielder. Names like Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Tyler Adams, Roma's Manu Kone, and Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni have been linked, but Carrick may have found the answer from within.
Mount, who won the last of his 36 England caps four years ago, spent much of his first two seasons at United sidelined by injuries but made a consistent impact last term. In pre-season wins against Wrexham and Rosenborg (a 5-0 victory), he has started alongside Santos, a Brazilian who cost £50m. Mount explained: "I've known Andrey for a while. He's a really good player and reads the game very well. He's a little bit more defensive, so it allows me to push on a little bit more and work off him." Santos sits deep, taking the ball off defenders and pressurising opponents, while Mount uses his ability to find space and move United up the pitch. Mount also noted he is not scared to make a tackle, describing both as "players that want to get around it, put tackles in, win the ball back and be aggressive."
“Mason Mount's new midfield role at Manchester United, partnership with Andrey Santos, and what it means for the team's summer plans.”
This role is not new to Mount. "It's a position I've played for many years from a young age," he said. "It's a position that I love, and I see myself in." Against Rosenborg, after Harry Maguire was substituted, Mount wore the captain's armband. He said: "You have different types of leaders. You have ones that are very vocal, but I see myself as one who leads by example and never stops working. I've been captain previously, years ago, so I love the role." He added that he enjoys helping younger players feel comfortable.
For UK readers, the development matters because Manchester United's midfield has been a weak spot since the departures of key players. If Mount and Santos can replicate their pre-season form, it could save the club tens of millions in transfer fees and give Michael Carrick a settled partnership heading into the new season. United face a tough run of friendlies against Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds United and AC Milan before opening their competitive campaign away at newly-promoted Hull City.
Q: Why has Mason Mount struggled at Manchester United so far? Mount's first two seasons at Old Trafford were disrupted by injuries, limiting his ability to build consistency. He also had to adapt to a new club and system after his high-profile move from Chelsea.
Q: How does Mount's new midfield partnership with Andrey Santos work? Santos plays as the deeper, defensive midfielder, allowing Mount to push forward, find space, and use his attacking instincts. Mount describes it as a position he has played for years and loves.
Q: Does this mean Manchester United will not sign a new midfielder? While United had planned to add a third midfielder after Ugarte's injury and Casemiro's exit, the early success of the Mount-Santos partnership may reduce the urgency. However, links to players like Tchouameni, Kone, Scott and Adams continue.
What happens next: United face Atletico Madrid next weekend, then PSG, Leeds and AC Milan in pre-season. Their Premier League campaign begins away at Hull City. Carrick will have to decide whether to trust the Mount-Santos duo or pursue a new signing before the transfer window closes.