Lingard leaves Reds, 12 months too late!
JESSE Lingard has finally got what he wants - a chance to play football.
Just hours after announcing Paul Pogba’s departure from the club, United revealed the news everyone was expecting - their academy graduate was following the Frenchman out of the door with his contract up at the end of the month.
Lingard wanted to leave United in January but his proposed move to Newcastle was blocked at the 11th hour by the club.
The Reds stressed the England international ‘will be an important player in the second half of the season.’ He played just 275 minutes in the rest of the campaign.
Having had a promising loan spell at West Ham during the second half of last season, which led the Hammers to chase his signing last summer, he was promised by the then United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he was part of his plans, but he wasn’t.
There was a stunning extra-time goal against Crystal Palace to win the 2016 FA Cup final at Wembley, another goal at Wembley against Southampton in the 2017 League Cup final and Lingard also played his part as United won the Europa League that year.
In a three-year period, he scored in those two finals, netted four times against Arsenal, twice against Chelsea, once each against Liverpool, Holland and Croatia, while he also scored in the Community Shield. Lingard just loved the big occasion.
He thrived under pressure and he thrived at Wembley. Lingard was a sensation at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but his fall from grace was equally spectacular.
He failed to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for the European Championship last year having regressed in the two years after England reached the World Cup semifinal.
Although Lingard was instrumental for United under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, that changed under Solskajer. He made 20 starts in the 2019/20 season, contributing just four goals and two assists.
Lingard was desperate to prove the Reds boss wrong and he joined West Ham on loan in January 2021 - the move was deemed a risk for the Londoners.
West Ham’s gamble was immediately vindicated by Lingard’s performances. He contributed nine goals and four assists in just 16 games and was promised more minutes at United for the new campaign.
He should have left the club last summer, with the benefit of hindsight. Keeping him at United was a decision that helped nobody.
Lingard has been a peripheral squad figure in the club’s worst season for 40 years. His consistent omissions have been baffling and made worse by the unacceptable performances of those starting ahead of him
The 29-year-old has been paid handsomely for his troubles, and the club squandered their last chance to receive a fee for him in the January window with Newcastle and West Ham both keen to sign him.
That was a mistake and Lingard is now leaving the club on a free transfer after the most frustrating period of his career.