Jesse Lingard was sidelined by Man Utd in the FA Cup third round clash with Middlesbrough despite being fully fit.
What did Rangnick say about Lingard?
The Red Devils player denied Rangnick’s request for time to clear his head after failing to secure a January transfer, insisting the club advised him to take a few days off. Jesse has spent his entire career to date in the Man Utd books but has played a small role in the squad throughout the current campaign amid strong competition for midfield spots. The English footballer reportedly pushed to leave Old Trafford in the latter stages of the January transfer window, but Man Utd refused to sanction his departure and Ralf Ragnick kept him out of his squad for the first post-winter break.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the FA Cup third round clash with Middlesbrough on Friday, interim Ralf Rangnick claimed that Lingard had been given extra time off at his own request. Asked about England’s absence, the Red Devils’ interim manager said Jesse Lingard had asked him and the club if they could give him a couple of days off to clear his mind. Lingard will return to the group, Ralf believes, next Monday, back to practice and then again be a regular part of the entire roster.
What did Jesse Lingard say?
Jesse came out to dismiss Ralf’s comments via social media, insisting his omission from the Middlesbrough game had nothing to do with his mindset. Jesse Lingard wrote that the club advised him to take a day off for personal reasons! But according to Jesse Lingard, his headspace is clear and he will always be a pro when called on and give 100 percent.
A little about Jesse Lingard
The midfielder was reported to have been the subject of interest from both Newcastle and West Ham in January, the latter of whom he played on loan in the second half of the 2021-22 campaign. Jesse Lingard could see more regular minutes at any of these clubs to put himself in the shop window before becoming a free agent in the summer, but now he’ll have to fight to get back into Man Utd’s first-team plans.