Mason Mount’s childhood icon Andres D’Alessandro paid the Chelsea midfielder some kind words before his European Championship match later.
Speaking to Goal, D’Alessandro admitted he was a huge fan of Mount, despite the Blues prodigy looking him to him as a youngster.
The 40-year-old spent a short section of his lengthy career at Portsmouth back in 2006 whilst on loan from Wolfsburg.
He aided Pompey’s relegation battle from the Premier League, ensuring he caught the hearts and minds of their supporters.
One of those being Mount, who was born in and grew up following Portsmouth, before becoming a diehard Blue.
A framed photo of D’Alessandro’s shirt can be found hanging in the Chelsea ace’s old room.
From one star to another
With Mount now matured into one of the game’s great talents, his footballing hero wanted to offer a few kind words ahead of England’s massive Euros fixture with Germany.
“I’ve seen him because I watch English football, he’s a player who has enormous potential,” said D’Alessandro, who is currently playing for Nacional in Uruguay.
“Obviously he’s still young but he’s shown that he has enormous talent, a player who can use both feet, quick, he scores goals. I hope he keeps growing.
“He is in one of the best clubs in the world, if he’s there, there is a reason for it, but I can see he has amazing ability and the potential to keep growing.”
Will Mason make it?
D’Alessandro may have some split loyalty’s when it comes to England versus Germany, as he had spells in both countries.
“May the best team win, I don’t have a preference,” he continued.
“I’d like Mason to score a goal, let’s root for him then, we are going to get behind Mason, I hope he can play.”
Hope is what Mount is riding on at the minute to be available for this evening’s crunch clash.
After coming into contact with covid19 positive Billy Gilmour, he’s been isolating for ten days away from Gareth Southgate’s squad.
His segregation period only ended at midnight, merely hours before the trip to Wembley.
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