By Sean Walsh
Manchester United have responded to a viral video of Mason Mount telling fans he would not sign their shirts.
Mount joined the Red Devils from Chelsea for an initial £55m fee in early July and made his debut in a pre-season win over Leeds United in Oslo on Wednesday.
However, the midfielder has already found himself the subject of debate on social media after a video surfaced of him declining a chance to sign shirts for fans who have followed him continuously since his move to Old Trafford.
“You know I won’t sign it,” Mount said in the video. “I haven’t signed up in the last three days, so I don’t know why you keep coming back.”
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Man Utd they have now commented on the situation and rushed to the defense of Mt.
“Unfortunately this sort of situation has become all too common. It is the last thing Mason deserves after being so friendly to everyone he has met since joining United,” the statement read.
“Professional autograph hunters regularly pressure United players to sign large quantities of items which they then resell for hundreds of pounds.
“It has become an everyday occurrence and a huge problem in Carrington. These organized groups will block players’ cars and harass them as they arrive and leave their jobs. It’s getting really dangerous and you have to worry it’s only a matter of time before they someone gets hurt.
“It also means that young fans, who just want to interact with their heroes, often get lost because players can’t stop and take pictures with them without having to interact with groups.
“It’s a real frustration for everyone, the security personnel are in regular dialogue with the players on how to stop the problem. If the problem persists, they will definitely start to act.”
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This article was originally posted on 90min.com as Man Utd release statement on fan harassment of Mason Mount.
