Chelsea star Mason Mount has told Sky Sports that idolised Luka Modric while the Croatian was at Tottenham Hotspur – before playing against the Real Madrid star in last season’s Champions League quarter-final, in which he got his shirt.
Mount, 23, is in Qatar and preparing for England’s first game at the World Cup on Monday against Iran. The Chelsea star comes into the World Cup in decent form, having a hand in eight goals in 21 outings during the 22-23 season.
The England players are busy getting as much training in as possible in Doha, ahead of their clash at the Khalifa International Stadium. Alongside their training, they are doing plenty of media work, too. Sky Sports posted a video.
Alongside Lionesses hero Beth Mead, Mount was asked who idolised when growing up and surprisingly, named Real Madrid and Croatia legend Modric – saying he watched the pocket-sized Ballon d’Or winner when he was at Spurs.
“I always used to watch Modric when he was in the Premier League. The obviously, I was playing against him. I got his shirt after the game [last season’s Champions League quarter-final],” Mount said, when asked for his childhood heroes.
Chelsea star Mount idolised Modric at Tottenham
A surprise, given Mount is a boyhood Chelsea star and the rivalry between Chelsea and Spurs. But there is no surprise in that Mount was trying to model his game on Modric. Even at 37, he remains one of the best midfielders in the game.
Modric has clocked up 110 goal involvements in 454 Real Madrid games, won 155 caps for Croatia and won countless trophies. He was adored at Spurs during his 160 appearances, before Daniel Levy accepted a £33m move to Madrid.
Modric will also be at the World Cup with his country, beginning their campaign against Morocco on Wednesday. He will also take on Canada and Belgium, while England face Iran, Wales and the United States.
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