Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard had this to say about Ralf Rangnick’s comments on his absence

Jesse Lingard has taken to social media to deny that he asked Manchester United for time off after the January transfer window closed.

In his latest press conference, Ralf Rangnick said that the England midfielder had requested the weekend off and would miss tonight’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Middlesbrough to “clear his mind’.

Lingard had been repeatedly link with a move away from Old Trafford during the January transfer window, with Newcastle and West Ham said to be keen, but United have retained the 29-year-old’s services.

What Ralf Rangnick said

Speaking on Thursday afternoon, interim manager Rangnick said: “Jesse asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off just to clear his mind.

“He will be back in training on Monday and part of the whole squad.

“I told him if he finds a club and the club find a solution with our club I would allow him to leave, but with all the developments, things changed.

“We also had no agreement with any other club so we had to take a final decision as the board and keep Jesse until the end of the season.”

Jesse Lingard’s reply

Lingard, however, disputed Rangnick’s explanation and responded on Twitter a few hours later.

He tweeted: “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.”