When a football legend speaks, people usually listen. But when Michael Owen recently criticized Manchester United's Mason Mount, one person wasn't having any of it—the player's own father.
The drama unfolded after United's frustrating goalless draw against Sunderland last weekend. Mount, who has been plagued by injuries since his high-profile move from Chelsea in summer 2023, finally got a rare start in midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo. With Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte both absent, it was a golden opportunity for the England international to prove his worth.
Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. Mount struggled to impose himself on the game, failing to replicate the control and authority that Casemiro usually brings to the midfield. Both defensively and offensively, he just couldn't find his rhythm—and Owen didn't hold back in his assessment.
"Mason Mount is working hard, but right now he's not performing anywhere near the level Manchester United expected when they signed him," Owen said during the broadcast. "He looks a little slow in possession, a bit laggy in transitions, and he's not really influencing the game enough in midfield."
Owen went on to highlight how United were missing key players like Casemiro, adding that Sunderland looked "more energetic and sharper in midfield areas." He called for more "intensity and personality" from Mount in games that demand it.
But Mount's father wasn't about to let the criticism slide. Taking to Instagram, he fired back with a pointed message: "Maybe not starting a game for five months has something to do with looking rusty. Owen, you fool."
It's a fair point. Mount has been battling fitness issues ever since arriving at Old Trafford, and with Michael Carrick now at the helm following Ruben Amorim's departure, competition for places has only intensified. Carrick has shown a clear preference for a midfield trio of Casemiro, Mainoo, and Bruno Fernandes, leaving Mount to bide his time.
For a player of Mount's caliber—a Champions League winner with Chelsea and a key figure for England—this season has been a test of patience. His dad's passionate defense shows just how much the family feels the weight of expectation.
United fans will be hoping that with more minutes on the pitch, Mount can shake off the rust and remind everyone why the club invested so heavily in him. After all, every great player knows that form is temporary, but class is permanent.