Ralf Rangnick has claimed to have resolved issues with Jesse Lingard after a recent controversy and public disagreement.
There has been a little friction between Ralf Rangnick and Jesse Lingard since deadline day in the January transfer window. After the window shut, the Manchester United boss claimed the Englishman needed some time off to clear his head. The midfielder then refuted the claim, suggesting the club advised him to take time off while claiming he was fine and ready to play.
The war of words stemmed from Manchester United’s decision to block a late move for Lingard in the January window. There was considerable interest from Premier League clubs and the Red Devils could have recouped a decent transfer fee for the 29-year-old. Lingard’s current contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of the season.
Newcastle United and West Ham United were pushing to sign the attacking midfielder, who has been rotting on the Manchester United bench for most of the current season. While he could be free to choose his next destination in the summer, it might be a bit late to catch the plane for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, given the playmaker is unlikely to play regularly during the second half of the campaign.
As Manchester United gear up to play Burnley in the Premier League, Rangnick confirmed the midfielder’s availability alongside Edinson Cavani. He said, “Both are available and they will both be part of the squad for tomorrow’s game at Burnley. Both are top professionals and both have been training well.”
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
— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) February 3, 2022
However, Rangnick also commented on the media chatter about his issues with Lingard. The Manchester United boss cleared the air as his comments on Sky Sports indicated the pair had resolved the matter between them.
Rangnick said, “With regard to Jesse, I have a very good relationship with him. He knows that I would’ve been willing to let him go, at least until the issue with Mason (Greenwood) came up. All the other things have been spoken about; he [Lingard] mentioned some personal issues.
“But we have to look forward now. There are no problems whatsoever between myself and Jesse, and vice versa. I’m happy to have him in the squad, and he will be a member of the squad for tomorrow’s game.”
Lingard is the second player in the space of a month to refute Rangnick’s claims to the press. Earlier, Anthony Martial, who joined Sevilla on loan, had contradicted the manager’s claims about him.
It remains to be seen if Lingard gets regular game time between now and the end of the season. Without much action, it will be difficult for the 29-year-old to be in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup plans and it does seem that Lingard made a terrible lapse in his judgement to stay put at Manchester United in the previous summer when he had the chance to leave.
