Jesse Lingard has expressed his desire to become an actor after his football career is done and dusted.
The 30-year-old attacking midfielder, who penned a one-year deal with Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest last summer, was the latest guest on Steven Bartlett's The Diary Of A CEO podcast.
In the 75-minute chat with host Bartlett, Lingard touched on a range of subjects, including life at Manchester United, his mother being admitted to hospital and the man-management skills of England boss Gareth Southgate.
He also spoke about ambitions away from football, including his aim to one day become an actor and star in comedy films.
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After being asked what he wants to do after football, Lingard said: "I want to go into acting. Maybe start doing a little bit of voiceover work, animation kind of things. But I need to take drama classes - I've not done that yet.
"I just love films. I've always been a big film lover. And to be involved in a film or a series would be amazing.
"I need to really home in on the drama side of things - I'm really bad with lines to be honest. I think I'll start in comedy first."
He added: "And then when you see the Interstellars and Inceptions - them kind of roles. But that's going to take time. You're not going to be (cast) straight way - maybe a bit part.
"With a media company I've got so many things in the line-up, and obviously it's based in LA, and that's hopefully where eventually hopefully I want to finish football."
Away from football and Lingard has continued to elevate his JLINGZ brand and recently linked up with gaming metaverse platform Virtua as a way of connecting with fans. He wants them to understand who the real Jesse is, and not just Lingard the footballer.
"It'll be a good chance to meet new people," he told SPORTbible. “I'm always looking for that next opportunity to interact with fans.”
When we spoke to Lingard ahead of Nottingham Forest's trip to Old Trafford last month, he opened up on his exit from United.
“It was game time," Lingard says when asked for the main reason behind his departure. "It's always going to be difficult playing at United but the lack of game time was the main thing.
"I just wanted to play football and that was the main aim. There was no point in staying there if I wasn't going to play.
"I wanted to go to a new team, play regularly and be happy on the pitch.”
Thoughts on Lingard's podcast with Bartlett?
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Topics: Jesse Lingard, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Premier League
Jack Kenmare