Ralf Rangnick understands Jesse Lingard's disappointment at not leaving Manchester United on transfer deadline day and suggested he is all but certain to leave the club when his contract expires.
Lingard, 29, is out of contract in June and has not started in a Premier League match for United since New Year's Day 2020. He has been restricted to just two starts this season, in the League Cup and the Champions League group stage.
Newcastle tried to sign Lingard on loan in the January window but United could not reach an agreement and Rangnick said the player requested additional leave to 'clear his mind' after spending the winter break in Dubai.
Lingard reported for training on Monday but, according to Rangnick, asked not to be considered for selection against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round tie tonight (Friday). Lingard disputed the manager's comments in a tweet late on Thursday, hours after the German's press conference, claiming the club asked him to take time off, rather than vice versa.
"A couple of weeks ago he wanted to stay and then he changed his mind, which was probably also to do with the clubs interested in him," Rangnick said, speaking before Lingard's post on Twitter.
"Ten days ago, I allowed him to leave but the clubs couldn’t find an agreement and again the situation changed. And, as I said, it’s a combination of both factors that in the end the board decided to have him stay here.
"His situation is similar to Paul Pogba's; it's in his own interest to get as much interest as he possibly can and perform on the highest possible level in order to get as many clubs interested in him in the summer.
"I’m pretty sure that he’s a professional football player and I had a few discussions with him in the last couple of weeks and I’m pretty sure once he’s back with the squad on Monday he will try to give his very best in his own interest, but also in the interest of the club. He’s been with this club so long.
"In a way, I can understand he’s a little bit disappointed and that he would have wanted to leave and get regular game-time elsewhere because he deserves it and he is good enough to get that game-time.
"So now it’s up to him, the group is a little bit smaller now. If he shows up in training he has all the chances to get game-time here.
"We have to do that together, we have to work together on that and make sure he can train and perform in a way that he gets game-time here with us.
"I think he can play two positions in our formation right now. It’s either one of the 8’s with one of the positions with Bruno or Fred, and he can also play on either of the two wing positions. Those are the two positions where I see Jesse."
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