It’s hard not to feel sorry for Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.The midfielder was blocked from a move from Old Trafford on deadline day and will likely have to spend the second half of the season as a bench player.Lingard is 29 now and he had hoped his form on loan at West Ham last season would result in regular action upon his return to United.But that hasn’t been the case. He hasn’t started a single Premier League game this campaign.Lingard, whose contract expires in the summer, could benefit by the loan departures of Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek but he’s still unlikely to be a regular starter under Ralf Rangnick.So the Englishman’s United career is likely to came to an end with him happy to say goodbye.There have been some memorable moments, including that winner in the 2016 FA Cup final, and anyone who gets to play more than 200 times for their boyhood club will have few regrets.And he’s also the first player to make Ole Gunnar Solskjaer see red.
Jesse Lingard claps Manchester United fans
Solskjaer let rip at Lingard
We’re throwing it back to 2020, when United took on rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup.
The Red Devils trailed 3-1 after the first leg and missed out on the final despite a 1-0 win in the return fixture.
Lingard had a bit of a stinker, giving the ball away on numerous occasions, and he was hauled off after 65 minutes.
He had been warned, though. After losing the ball yet again, footage captured Solskjaer telling him: “One more time and you’re off!â€
Seconds earlier, Lingard had gifted City’s Raheem Sterling a glorious opportunity to score when he relinquished the ball with a wayward touch.
Lingard rejects Rangnick claim
Lingard was linked with a move away from the club in January but United refused to let him go.
Rangnick said this week that the midfielder asked to take some time off to ‘clear his mind’ - a claim that was disputed by Lingard himself.
“The club advised me to have time off due to personal reasons! But my headspace is clear and I’ll always be professional when called upon and give 100 percent,†Lingard wrote on Twitter.
So Lingard and United clearly remain in disagreement over his absence, and one imagines he’s still frustrated about not being allowed to leave.
The summer can’t come quickly enough for him.