Jesse Lingard has been defended, after Simon Jordan brutally ripped into the former Manchester United star for 'flushing' his career and wasting three years.
Lingard left United at the end of last season, after 22 years of being attached to the club, having played just 356 minutes in the club's Premier League campaign.
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He had been expected to move to West Ham last summer, after an impressive six months on loan for David Moyes season, but ended up staying as he didn't want to join the Hammers.
That move didn't work out as he was denied any significant first team football by either Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Ralf Rangnick, and left when his contract expired.
On Wednesday, former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan, claimed the England international had wasted three years of his career and claimed the 29-year-old would be better remembered for his TikTok than his football.
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However, former Aston Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor has now stuck up for the winger, saying that Jordan is bitter, and said Lingard has had an 'amazing' career.
"That annoyed me when I heard that," Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT, of his colleagues words.
"I feel Simon can be quite bitter, he reminds me of a bitter owner who you try to negotiate a contract with and they’re like, ‘get out, you’re not having that’, but you’ve got to go with the times.
"For me, Lingard has had an amazing career. He’s played for his country, he’s played at the club he’s loved for 11 years since he was a kid, he did amazing on his loan at West Ham, he was probably their best player when he joined them.
"Yes, at the moment he needs to lower his wage demands. What he’s asking for, clubs won’t pay, because he’s had a season without playing much football. So yes he needs better advice on that.
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"But to say he’s only going to be remembered for his TikToks sounds a bit bitter to me.
"I’d rather Jesse Lingard do TikTok videos than coming out of the pub like the players did in the 1980s and 90s, drunk. If this is how he wants to spend his spare time, going on his TikTok and having a bit of fun with his friends, good for him.
"I think you might look at his social media and think that’s what he’s doing all day, but he’s probably only doing it for an hour after training, and he might be training in the morning, afternoon, working hard all the time.
"I feel sometimes Simon can be a bit bitter about what sort of money these players are earning. Maybe they’re richer than him, and he can’t handle that."
The former Birmingham City loanee was previously linked with a return to the London Stadium this summer, whilst Everton were also said to be in the frame.
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However, Lingard has also been in America recently as he weighed up the potential option to move to the MLS, with former teammate Wayne Rooney said to be interested.
The former Derby County manager is now back at DC United, where he played towards the end of his career, as their new boss.
Despite two decades at Old Trafford, as boy and man, Lingard didn't leave the club on particularly good terms, after being denied a farewell performance in front of the fans.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Jesse Lingard, Premier League, Manchester United, Simon Jordan
