After news broke yesterday that Jesse Lingard had agreed a new 4-year deal at Manchester United that would see his weekly wage rise to a possible £100,000 a week, many of the club's fans voiced their displeasure at the amount he would be earning.
Lingard is a player that divides the Manchester United fan base regardless of the money he is earning. It's always been that way, as players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher, and Michael Carrick all split opinion early in their Old Trafford careers, but Lingard is the latest who you will always hear groans about when picked to start on match day.
There are, of course, many Man Utd fans who support him and would point to the fact that he's scored vital goals in two cup finals within the last year when defending him, but even they were mostly surprised by the money Lingard had been offered considering his status in the squad.
Gary Neville, however, is not having any of it. After Mark Ogden of ESPN FC expressed his bemusement with the hostile reaction towards Lingard, Neville seemed totally unaware that there was any ill feeling towards him.
Lingard divides opinion, but goals in two cup finals, England caps etc. Deserves new deal.
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) April 6, 2017
Who does he divide opinion with? https://t.co/zGXFLtyACh
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 7, 2017
@GNev2 Check my timeline. Probably 70/30 against him. Weird.
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) April 7, 2017
United fans ? https://t.co/1Mh56mWbxD
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 7, 2017
Upon learning that there is a noticable section of United fans that don't rate Lingard, Neville then hit out at them claiming that he could not be real Manchester United fans if they are not happy to see someone who has been at the club as long as the England international has.
They aren't United fans really. They can't be if they are against a kid that's been at the club since he was 7. https://t.co/5r0hY1h8Ag
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 7, 2017
@GNev2 Give everyone a hefty contract who has been there for a long time then?
— Vikram (@thereversefIash) April 7, 2017
Mmmmm no. Give every kid that's been there a long time a contract if the manager agrees? https://t.co/ze329Z9a61
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 7, 2017
Two separate points.
1.Jose gave him the contract? Have a go at him?
2. Homegrown lad being selected for the first team. Get behind him! https://t.co/2yRKsAjXYa— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 7, 2017
It's a strong position to take, but it's certainly understandable given Neville's route to professional football, he's always going to favour homegrown players.
The issue for most fans, however, is the money that he has been offered and the precedent that sets going forward. Lingard is not a player who would be considered for the club's best starting XI, and while role players are absolutely vital to have around the squad, it's rare to see them paid so well.
But then you have to consider just how much financial power the club has, so much so that they can afford to keep Lingard, even with his big wages, and have it impact very little.
The Lingard split among United fans is interesting, and it seems that everyone has got a side.
