Jesse Lingard “wanted to get back to Manchester United to see Cristiano Ronaldo in real life”, says Paul Parker, and needs to cut out “showboating”.
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Playmaker played alongside Portuguese in 2021-22Has been without a club since the summer of 2023Now linked with teams in England & MLS WHAT HAPPENED?
The former England international midfielder played alongside five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo at Old Trafford in 2021-22 after returning from a loan spell at West Ham in the same summer as an all-time great secured a stunning return to Manchester.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Lingard severed ties with United a few months prior to Ronaldo, as he joined Nottingham Forest as a free agent, but has been without a club since being released at the end of the 2022-23 season. The 31-year-old has taken in trials at West Ham and Al-Ettifaq, but is currently working by himself as he waits to discover whether any of the speculation regarding his immediate future holds any substance.
WHAT PARKER SAID ABOUT LINGARD
Former United defender Parker, who won two Premier League titles while with the Red Devils, has told of why Lingard is a risk for any suitor and what he needs to do in order to rebuild his reputation: “It´s a gamble for any club to take Jesse Lingard. He is not good enough to play for Barcelona, everyone knows that. He has let himself down with the West Ham situation. I think he wanted to get back to Man United just to see Ronaldo in real life. He decided to act disrespectful to Nottingham Forest as well. He virtually went there just to chill and he never proved himself.
“If Everton decides to buy him, I expect them to have a clause where they can terminate the contract if he doesn't live up to the expectations. Everton is not an easy club and he really needs to prove to the fans that he is there for the right reasons and not for showboating. He needs to stop everything that he usually does. Ashley Young might help him in terms of calming him down. He is a good role model and maybe he should have been his agent during the summer when he tried to get the move to Saudi Arabia with all the money, which didn't turn out well.”
WHAT NEXT FOR LINGARD?
Lingard took in 232 appearances for United after graduating out of their famed academy system and has 32 senior caps for England. Questions have, however, been asked of his form and fitness in recent times, leaving him wondering whether teams in the Premier League, MLS or Saudi Pro League will take a punt on his services.