I needed to leave Man United for Nottingham Forest - other clubs were miles ahead

Jesse Lingard burst on to the scene at Manchester United after progressing through their famed Academy system, but his career at the club didn't end how he, or anyone else, would have hoped.

The attacking midfielder took his first steps with loan spells at Leicester City, Birmingham City, Brighton and Derby County. He then made his Premier League debut in 2014 and went on to play 231 further times for the club, scoring 35 goals and providing 20 assists overall.

However, a loss of form led to his game-time reducing and he joined West Ham on loan in January 2021. He caught the eye with his performances for the Hammers.

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He returned to United that summer but, despite being offered a new contract, he opted to leave 12 months later for pastures new. That's where his move to Nottingham Forest on a free transfer arose.

Speaking to BBC Sport in January 2023, he opened up about that move. "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."

Lingard then outlined why he decided to sign for Forest over West Ham, who were also interested in making his loan deal permanent after the forward put in some sensational performances there.

"I think they showed the love. They showed the willingness and the hunger to want me," he added.

"Things broke down at West Ham - which I can't get into too much - but Nottingham showed the love a lot more than West Ham. Nottingham were like; 'We love you, we want you, and the manager will come to your house, the owner wants to fly you to Greece to sign the deal'.

"For me it was a new challenge, a different challenge. Newly-promoted team and all I'd known is United."

Lingard then reflected more on his departure from Old Trafford. He highlighted the disappointment of the way he left, and offered up a brutal assessment of the club behind the scenes.

"I didn't really get a send-off," he added. "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."

Asked if he had lost respect for United - over time - Lingard said: "Probably, yeah. No balance, no structure, people doing what they want. It was like a free for all.

"They are so behind with everything. You see [Manchester] City's facilities, Tottenham's facilities. People were miles ahead. Even on the social side of things."

Lingard's switch to Forest didn't work out how he may have hoped. In his one season with the club, he made 20 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.

He left the club as a free agent in the summer of 2023. Six months later, he then completed a deal to join South Korean outfit FC Seoul - where he's scored six times and provided three assists in his 26 K-League 1 appearances.

Talking about his decision to switch to South Korea, he wrote in The Times in October: "When looking for my next club, it felt important to go somewhere I was loved and appreciated and, after I returned to Manchester, FC Seoul sent two of their main people all the way there just to watch me train and play in a five-a-side game.

"The idea of Korea grabbed me. Not just a different challenge, but a new environment and a new culture. FC Seoul is one of the biggest clubs in the K-League, with a fantastic stadium, so I said yes."