MASON GREENWOOD’S arrest was a factor in Jesse Lingard being unable to leave Manchester United, according to manager Ralf Rangnick.
Greenwood is on bail and suspended from United after being quizzed by police on suspicion of rape, GBH, sexual assault and threats to kill.
Rangnick said: “So it was two things one thing was obviously that we had the problem with Mason Greenwood and being without a player for the time being that has played regularly in the last couple of weeks.
“On the other hand the club could not find an agreement with another club.”
Rangnick admitted that the Greenwood situation has been talked about amongst the players since they returned to training after the international break.
He said: “Obviously it was a topic within the team but they’re human beings and Mason was part of the group before we had our break.”
Lingard has been given a short time off by Rangnick after failing to get the move he wanted having previously told the manager he wanted to leave.
Newcastle were interested but the details of a loan deal could not be agreed between the two clubs.
Rangnick said: “Jesse (asked) if we could give him a couple of days off to clear his mind. He will be back in training on Monday and part of the whole squad.
“Three weeks ago, Jesse didn’t want to leave, then he changed his mind, I had a chat with him 10 days ago and I could fully understand why he wanted to leave to get game time for his future and the World Cup.
“I told him if he finds a club and the club find a solution with our club I would allow him to leave, obviously with all the developments we had in this last couple of days, things changed a little bit.
“The board told me, they couldn’t find an agreement with any clubs interested in him. With the window closing Monday evening the board informed me they would rather he stay. That was a decision I could fully understand and accept.”
The main obstacle preventing Lingard’s exit earlier in the window was United’s demands over a loan fee and survival bonus, with Newcastle potentially having to fork out £12million if Lingard helped them avoid relegation.
That demand is said to have angered Lingard who had felt let down by the club’s poor treatment of him despite his years of service.
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