Mason Mount was encouraging Raheem Sterling to join Chelsea

Mason Mount has revealed that he acted as an undercover agent in Chelsea’s pursuit of Raheem Sterling.

The playmaker said he spoke to his England team-mate, who earlier this month arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £47.5million deal, in an ultimately successful attempt to encourage him to make the move from Manchester City.

‘I spoke to him a little bit when we were away on international duty,’ Mount, 23, said. He didn’t have a clue what was going on. He just said there was interest there and I was obviously saying: “We’d love to have you at the club”.’

Sterling arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £47.5m deal from Manchester City earlier this month

With mission accomplished, Mount played alongside his new teammate for the first time on Wednesday night, and is now looking forward to what he can bring to west London.

‘I know what he is like as a person as a player,’ he said. ‘I’ve played with him for the last couple of years with England and he’s a top, top guy with a lot left to go and a lot more winning to do so its brilliant to have him.’

When asked if he was surprised that City let Sterling go to a rival, Mount was guarded.

‘I don’t really think about all that kind of stuff,’ he said. ‘We are just adding another world class, top player to our team. He has been brilliant for them for however many years and he has won so much so for us to get him, we are lucky. He is going to do everything he can to be at the top of his level to win stuff with us. And we are a team with a lot of ambition and a lot of will to win.’

Boyhood Chelsea fan Mount, who has come through the ranks at the club, took the captain’s armband for the second-half of what was a disappointing penalty shootout loss to MLS outfit Charlotte FC.

And he did not rule out fulfilling the captaincy role in future.

Mount captained Chelsea against Charlotte and would not shy away from the role in future

‘I am still young and I am still learning but whenever the opportunity comes to step up I want to take it,’ he said.

‘Obviously the gaffer trusted me with captaining the side in the second half and I take that responsibility.

‘Whether we win, whether we lose I always want to be the one to be able to take it. To take it on the chin if we win and obviously if we lose as well.’

Mount admits he is not the most talkative skipper, but believes he can excel regardless.

‘I’m naturally not the most vocal,’ he said. ‘I’ve never really been that. When I was captain of the Under-18 FA Youth Cup side I was always someone who tried to lead by example on the pitch.

‘But you have to bring that as well and that’s something I am constantly trying to learn off the likes of Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta) and Jorgi (Jorginho) who have been captains of this club. Just trying to learn off them and trying to add that to my game. 

‘Even if you are not someone who leads with the ball and leads on the pitch you have to have that other side as well.’