‘He went for MONEY!’: Jamie Carragher slams Jesse Lingard for signing one-year, £120,000-a-week deal at Nottingham Forest as Gary Neville says ex-USA star’s reputation ‘ has been a success.”
- Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have criticized Jesse Lingard’s recent move
- The midfielder signed a lucrative contract with Nottingham Forest this summer
- Lingard was chased by other teams but opted for the higher paying deal
- The pundit duo suggest Lingard’s reputation has “taken a hit” this window
By James Cohen for Mailonline
Published: 16:29, August 4, 2022 | Updated: 16:35, 4 August 2022
Pundit duo Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have criticized Jesse Lingard’s decision to move to Nottingham Forest and suggest his reputation has “taken a hit”.
The former Man United midfielder completed a move to the newly-promoted Premier League side last month after snubbing West Ham, who were also interested in his services.
Since then, Lingard has come in for a number of criticisms, with the pundit duo not holding back in their suggestions that he moved to Forest “for money”.
Jamie Carragher (L) and Gary Neville criticized Jesse Lingard’s recent move at their event
Lingard signed a lucrative £120,000-a-week deal with Nottingham Forest this summer
Speaking in the second part of the fan debate on the live overlay, Carragher said: “He [Jesse Lingard] he went there [Nottingham Forest] for the money I love Nottingham Forest, they are back [in the Premier League].
“If any footballer is choosing Nottingham Forest right now, before West Ham and what they’ve done in the last two or three years, they’ve obviously gone there for a few quid. And the fact that he’s only signed for a year means that next year in a free or Bosman [ruling].
“There’s a good chance Forest could go down, but it puts Jesse Lingard in a good position if he scores eight to 10 goals for them. But if West Ham want you right now, I can’t believe he’s never gone to West Ham It’s great for Nottingham Forest.
The England international, who left Manchester United at the end of his contract, turned his back on West Ham to sign for Forest despite impressing on loan with the Hammers last season. He has been paid a basic salary of £80,000 per week and the rest will be made up with potential bonuses.
Lingard in action during Forest’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Valencia at Meadow Lane
Meanwhile, Neville claimed that: “It felt really transactional [Lingard signing for Nottingham Forest].
“Football fans, when it comes down to it, later in the year, if Jesse starts to be linked for four or five months with where he’s going next year, it’s not going to end well.
“Fans don’t like transactional stuff like that. They’re happy to play the game. They [Nottingham Forest] I could have shaped it differently. two years [on a contract] and if we go down, a little clause in the contract that says you can leave for free’.
‘Jesse could have been smart. Reputationally, it has taken a hit. He could have signed a two-year contract where he leaves at the end of the season – if they go down – for free”.
Lingard’s decision to reject West Ham for Forest means he could face a frosty reception from away fans when he makes his home debut on August 14.
Lingard opted not to return to West Ham, where he shone on loan in the 2020-21 season
Neville continued: “Nobody needs to know about that clause and it’s clever. Why expose yourself to the fact that he looks cold, ruthless and money-hungry? And he’s turned down West Ham. That’s not going to go down well or publicly with the media or with the fans if after six months he starts talking about [moving elsewhere].
“Nobody ever questions his work ethic, he’s always over-performed. A few years ago there was pressure on him to leave, people thought he had to be Ronaldo or something, and he’s obviously not that type of player.
“I just think in terms of how you’re portrayed and seen in football – you can make moves sometimes that mean you’re portrayed in a way that won’t help you in your future life after football. That was one of them. that I might look back and think “I wish I hadn’t done that.”
The midfielder could face a hostile reception from West Ham fans later this month
Forest approached Lingard with a lucrative £120,000-a-week deal to help strengthen their squad ahead of their first Premier League campaign since 1999.
The Hammers had also been in the transfer race to sign Lingard permanently following his successful loan spell in 2020-21. However, they were reluctant to come up with their own bid, which was lower than Forest’s.
Forest therefore won the transfer race for the 29-year-old, who is just one of Steve Cooper’s 12 new signings preparing for a return to the top flight.