Jesse Lingard hits back at Ralf Rangnick’s claim he asked for extra time off and insists Man Utd told HIM to take an extended break after vetoing a deadline day exit – and says ‘my headspace is clear’

Jesse Lingard has disputed Ralf Rangnick’s claim that he asked for time off to ‘clear his mind’ after Manchester United blocked a deadline day move away from Old Trafford.

Lingard posted a response on social media, just hours after Rangnick explained his absence from Friday night’s FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough and, ironically, called for unity in the wake of Mason Greenwood’s arrest.

‘Jesse asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off just to clear his mind,’ said United’s interim manager.

‘He will be back in training, I suppose, on Monday and then be a regular part of the whole squad.’

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However, Lingard responded on Thursday night by saying he is in the right of mind to play and it was the club who suggested having some time off.

The 29-year-old is also understood to be surprised by Rangnick’s comment that he originally wanted to stay at United in the January transfer window before moves to Newcastle and West Ham fell through.

Lingard posted: ‘The club advised me to have time off due to personal reasons! But my headspace is clear and I’ll always be professional when called upon and give 100 per cent.’

Earlier, Rangnick admitted that Greenwood’s arrest on suspicion of raping, attacking and threatening to kill an 18-year-old student had influenced United’s decision to keep Lingard after they allowed Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek and Amad Diallo to go out on loan.

The German urged his players to stick together through a difficult time for the club, saying: ‘It’s an unusual situation for everybody and nobody would want to experience that.

‘This is what it’s all about in life, not only in professional football, that you have to stay together and be united on that and still keep going.’