Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor has called Simon Jordan "bitter" after the former Crystal Palace owner claimed Jesse Lingard will be remembered for "TikTok videos".
The England international, 29, left Manchester United at the end of last season and is contemplating his next career move. It's believed he's considering a £10million-a-year contract from a Saudi Arabian club but his preference is to stay in the Premier League.
West Ham are among those clubs thought to be interested in signing Lingard. The winger spent time on loan at the Hammers during the 2020/21 campaign, scoring nine Premier League goals to win the competition's Player of the Month award in April 2021.
Jordan was responding to a rumour linking Lingard with the MLS. "Jesse Lingard has taken three years of his career and flushed it because he's not accepted that he's not really regarded highly enough at Man Utd to get in their team," he told talkSPORT.
"He had an opportunity to go to West Ham and he's made it about finances. He's run down his contract so he can leave on a free contract because he knows that will put his wage packet on a certain level... Lingard will be remembered, for me, for TikTok videos."
Yet Agbonlahor has defended Lingard. "That annoyed me when I heard that," the ex-striker told talkSPORT. "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's had an amazing career."
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Agbonlahor went on to say: "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."
Many of Jordan's claims can be disputed. It's unclear when Lingard had the chance to go to West Ham as manager David Moyes has confirmed United wanted to keep him last summer. "No nothing like that [finance] at all," said Moyes last September.
"Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] made it clear to me quite early in the transfer window that he wanted to keep him. So I knew pretty early in the transfer window that he was staying at Man Utd. I had a private conversation with Ole who made it clear that he was staying."
United were also reluctant to sell Lingard to the Hammers in January as both clubs were challenging for Champions League qualification, something they both missed out on. In terms of this summer, the player is yet to make a decision (publicly, at least).
In regards to Lingard's legacy, he will be best remembered by United supporters for scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final six years ago - the club's first major trophy following the retirement of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson in May 2013.
Ironically, that winner was against Palace (although Jordan was no longer the club's owner by that point). Lingard also played a role in helping the Red Devils win the Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League during the 2016/17 campaign, scoring in two finals.
Lingard is also an FA Youth Cup winner and has achieved plenty at international level, helping England reach the semi-final of the World Cup in 2018 and the finals of the Nations League 12 months later. He was unlucky not to be included in the squad for Euro 2020.
Lingard has made 298 club appearances to date, scoring 56 goals. The Warrington lad came through the ranks at Old Trafford and has represented Leicester, Birmingham, Brighton, Derby and West Ham on loan. He will turn 30 later this year.
