Rio Ferdinand Slams Forward For Sticking With Manchester United: 'He’s Never Going to Play Games'

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has slammed Jesse Lingard for sticking with the Old Trafford side, saying that “he’s never going to play games.”

Lingard was recently left disappointed after Manchester United blocked his move to Newcastle United during the January transfer window.

After having a successful loan stint at West Ham in the second half of the last campaign, Lingard returned to Old Trafford after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had promised him more game time in the 2021-22 season.

Unfortunately, the promise was not kept as Lingard has spent only 88 minutes on the field in the Premier League for the Red Devils. The 29-year-old forward is yet to start a league game for Manchester United this season and has made only 14 appearances across all competitions.

"I wouldn’t be happy if I was a player. It’s almost like he’s wasted a whole year of his career, a whole season of his career has been wasted. He hasn’t played hardly any games, hasn’t been involved. Jesse Lingard went to West Ham and done fantastically well. Everyone would have wanted to take him outside of probably the top four… And then he goes back to Man United and doesn’t play," Ferdinand said on his FIVE YouTube channel.

Lingard netted nine goals and five assists in 16 Premier League matches for West Ham last season. His loan move to the London Park proved good for The Hammers as they secured European soccer for the 2021-22 term. West Ham are competing in the Europa League this season.

"I was just baffled that he went back to Man United in the first place. After having that taste of success, that taste of playing every week. Either he was promised by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he’d get more game time. I don’t know what it was. And then this window you’d think he’d be doing all he can to get out," Ferdinand added.

Lingard’s current contract with Manchester United is due to expire at the end of the season. The Englishman has rejected an extension and will leave his boyhood club for good in the summer.

"But you look at his career and I just think the last year or two has just been wasted by just sticking around at Man United. He’s never going to play games. It’s just crazy," Ferdinand said further.