'Obviously emotional' - Man Utd academy graduate admits he broke down in tears over 2022 Old Trafford exit

Manchester United have a rich history of players coming through the club’s academy ranks and excelling with the first team. David Beckham, George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton, Duncan Edwards, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes are just some of the big names to have established themselves in Old Trafford legend.

And while there are a huge number of stars who have excelled with the club, there are those who never quite lived up to expectations. Jesse Lingard made 232 appearances for the Red Devils scoring 35 goals and providing 20 assists.

Lingard scored the winning goal in the 2016 FA Cup final as United beat Crystal Palace at Wembley. He enjoyed a fine 2017-18 campaign with the club as he scored eight goals and provided six assists in 33 Premier League games while he also netted three times in the League Cup and twice in the FA Cup. Hopes of Lingard kicking on after that campaign never materialised, however, as he spent time on loan at West Ham United during the 2020-21 season. The 2021/22 campaign was his final one with United, as he started just two Premier League games before being released at the conclusion of his contract.

Lingard opens up in United exit

After leaving Old Trafford, Lingard signed for Nottingham Forest but was released after just one season as he was not offered a new deal. In Febraury 2024 he ended his peroid as a free agent by joining South Korean K League club FC Seoul.

Speaking about his departure from his boyhood club, Lingard told the Independent this week: “My application in training each day was always 100 per cent, you know… But, you come to a certain time where you need to leave. “The last day, I was crying on the way home… to leave was obviously emotional but it was what I needed to do. There’s still a love for United. Playing for that badge week in, week out is one of the best feelings I’ve had.”

So far in South Korea, he has made 27 appearances and scored six goals for FC Seoul.

Lingard’s previous comments about United departure

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast back in 2023, Lingard revealed how some personal struggles with his family life had impacted his performances on the pitch. On leaving United he said he was offered a new deal but rejected it: "People probably thought I was happy to leave, but I needed to leave. I wasn't playing. I got offered a contract, but what's the point? I wasn't going to play. Yeah, it's the biggest club in the world, but happiness is more important for me.”

He added: "I didn't really get a send-off. I had been there that long and think I deserved one. I had been there all my life and I know everyone in the club from the staff to the kit men to the dinner ladies. That had been my life."

In other news, Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has hit out at Jadon Sancho’s recent performances for the Blues and has claimed the Manchester United forward “deceived” with some early performances at Stamford Bridge.