Jesse Lingard reveals strict Wayne Rooney car rule he followed at Man United
Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has revealed Wayne Rooney’s strict car rule from his time at the club.
Lingard, 32, came through the ranks at Manchester United and made his Premier League debut for the club during a match against Swansea City back in 2014.
He went on to score 35 goals in 232 appearances for the club, one of which came during extra time of United’s 2-1 FA Cup final win against Crystal Palace in 2016.
However, he never fully fulfilled his potential at the Red Devils and after five loan spells - at the likes of Derby County and West Ham United – he signed for Nottingham Forest in 2022 before making a move to K-League side FC Seoul in 2024.
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In an interview with the Mail, released on Saturday, the 32-year-old discussed all things football and revealed that he still watches United’s highlights – although struggles to view live matches due to the nine-hour time difference.
He also revealed that his former Red Devils teammate Rooney had a car rule which he told Lingard about.
"With us being in the first team, you know, it's obviously knowing the right place, the right time to do things and stuff like that," said Lingard.
“But ruining culture? We only tried to make it stronger. We responded to success and we smiled and laughed and we were winning games. So that is good culture, yeah?
“Wayne Rooney told me: 'Don't buy your first car until you’ve played 50 games.’ Obviously, 50 games came and I drove in a Range Rover, parked up and Rooney was like: ‘Whose is that? Have you played 50 games now?’
“And that was me accepted. I have never tried to be flash. Of course, if you have nice things sometimes you wanna show them. But the photographers would follow me and take pictures of me in my car every time we drove in.”
Lingard previously revealed how Rooney was an inspiration to him and that he learned something "every day” from the United’s record goal scorer, who he played with 46 times.
"You learn every day from him,” Lingard said in 2017.
“His experience in games, especially when you're young," he added.
"If it's only 1-0 it's always hard to manage a game, and he knew what to do at times, especially towards the end of games."
Topics: Manchester United, Jesse Lingard, Wayne Rooney, Premier League, FA Cup, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest
Luke Davies