Jesse Lingard says God told him to 'enjoy family time' as ex-Man Utd star opens up on long period without a club before joining FC Seoul

The former Manchester United star became a free agent after leaving Forest at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. He could not find another club until FC Seoul came knocking on his door as he joined them in February 2024. The six months he spent in free agency was challenging for Lingard as he was first slapped with an 18-month ban on driving as he was found guilty of drink-driving. In November 2023, his beloved grandmother passed away, whose house the England star grew up in.

Speaking to the Independent, the 32-year-old said: "I was home with my family and my nan wasn’t well. I felt at the time it was just God saying, ‘Be with your family, enjoy the family time. Then, going to Dubai for a training camp in December and getting ready for January. Just being strict with that. I feel like it all just played a part."

Lingard has had a mixed experience in the K League so far. He suffered a knee in the early stages of last season and subsequently underwent surgery. In the second half of the campaign, the player regained full fitness and started to gel with his team-mates, eventually finishing up with six goals and three assists to his name in 26 league appearances as FC Seoul finished fourth in the table. Ahead of the new campaign, the player has been named as the captain of the club.

The player will be back in action on Saturday as FC Seoul take on Anyang in their second K League 1 match of the season at home.