Lingard explains who he ‘supports’ in bitter Ronaldo and Man Utd row

Cristiano Ronaldo: 'No evolution' since Ferguson left Man Utd

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Jesse Lingard has come out in support of Manchester United after Cristiano Ronaldo criticised the manager and the club in a recent interview. Lingard and Ronaldo shared a dressing room at Old Trafford last season but neither are likely to be there by January, with the former bedding in at Nottingham Forest and the latter trying to manufacture a move elsewhere.

Ronaldo was lured back to Old Trafford by one of his former team-mates, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was in charge of Man Utd at the time. The Norwegian was eventually replaced by Ralf Rangnick, who himself gave way to Erik ten Hag, leaving the Portuguese in an awkward situation. 

In a fiery interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo admitted that he didn’t even know who Rangnick was when he was appointed interim boss last term. Furthermore, he claims to not respect current boss Ten Hag after starting just four Premier League games all season. 

Lingard knows a thing or two about behind-the-scenes disagreements with United, after he was denied a move away in 2021/22 before being left to collect dust on the bench. 

JUST IN: Cristiano Ronaldo misses Portugal World Cup training due to ‘bug’ after frosty exchanges

“It’s his situation,” Lingard told talkSPORT. “I dealt with my situation with the club. We kept it behind closed doors. We settled it on good terms, of course, so I support the club. That’s his situation.

“I don’t know what’s been said or what’s happened between him and the manager, that’s not my place to say. Football is crazy sometimes and Ronaldo is the greatest player in the world. He must be hurting but I can’t comment on that situation on the moment.”

DON’T MISS
Man Utd have ’15-day window’ to seal transfer for Maguire replacement
Qatar World Cup organisers ‘break promise’ as England fans learn price for beer
Chelsea owner Boehly given two-month window to sign Dembele at half price

Lingard is particularly well qualified to discuss Man Utd matters, given that he spent more than two decades on the club’s books before joining Nottingham Forest on a permanent basis in July. The 29-year-old may have clung onto hopes of featuring at this year’s World Cup but a run of goalless Premier League appearances left him well short of England’s 26-man squad. 

Current United players have generally steered clear of answering questions on Ronaldo’s striking comments, even if Bruno Fernandes’ frosty welcome when the pair linked up on Portugal duty told the whole story. Raphael Varane, who also played with Ronaldo at Real Madrid, was one of the few to address the situation. 

“Obviously it affects us,” he told radio station Europe1. “We follow what is happening and what is being said. We try to calm the situation in our own way, we try not to get too involved in it. What is happening in the media in the big clubs is gaining momentum.

“When it’s a star like Ronaldo, even more, so we try to take it with distance, that is to say that we do not try to change the situation alone, we are part of a collective. What I want is the best for my team, so whatever the decision, as players, we’ll accept it and give the best of ourselves.”

Source: Read Full Article