02 March 2024 , 14:33
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Jesse Lingard finally made his debut for FC Seoul... but his first outing won't live long in the memory.
The former Manchester United star surprised many when he chose to turn down numerous lucrative offers to eventually sign for the South Korean side on wages of around £17,500-a-week. Lingard came off the bench as Seoul lost at Gwangju in the early hours of Saturday.
They fell to a 2-0 loss with the first goal coming in the 21st minute when Lingard was watching on from the bench. The ex-England international was only on the pitch for a quarter of an hour but managed to get booked as Gwangju scored a second late on.
Seoul's loss was the first game of the K League season. Last term the team from the South Korean capital finished seventh having finished eighth the year prior to that. Making a switch to Asia is by no means a natural route for English players, but Lingard was excited by the prospect.
Speaking in a press conference upon signing he said: "I’m very excited. It’s a new challenge. I’ve accepted it, I’m here and I’m ready to embrace the culture. It’s a new beginning for me, a new chapter in my career. I just want to enjoy playing football again, putting a smile on people’s faces and showing Korean fans what I can do."
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Not everyone is convinced by the move though, Simon Jordan among them. He said on TalkSport : "Good riddance to bad rubbish. Wasted his time, wasted his career, wasted his opportunities, wasted his time at Nottingham Forest, wasted Nottingham Forest's money, and this is the level he's now at. Well done.
"All the talent you had, all the opportunities you've had, you've played for the biggest club in world football in my view in Manchester United and you spent more time worrying about what you look like. Good player. No doubt he's a good player but he's a waste of time now.
The ex-Man Utd star surprised many by joining the South Korean outfit"Ask Nottingham Forest fans what they think of him… waste of time. What a waste of an opportunity.
"You don't land in Seoul for a nondescript team in a nondescript league for nondescript money in the age of fortunes and people questioning whether you've got brands. Brand what? Brand idiot?"
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