Mason Greenwood’s arrest was a factor in Jesse Lingard’s failed move, says Rangnick

Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood’s recent arrest was a factor in the club’s choice not to allow Jesse Lingard to leave in January, manager Ralf Rangnick said on Thursday.

Greenwood has been released on bail pending further investigations, police said on Wednesday, after the 20-year-old player was arrested on suspicion of assault and rape of a woman.

Manchester United have banned Greenwood from training or playing matches until further notice, and with one less forward in the team, Lingard, who was heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United in January, is needed by his present club.

“In a way, yes,” Rangnick told a news conference when asked whether  Greenwood’s arrest impacted the club’s thinking on Lingard.

“With the window closing Monday evening the board informed me they would rather he stay, so I could understand and accept.

“We had a problem with Mason Greenwood and being without a player for the time being, and the club not finding an agreement with another club.”

Talking ahead of United’s FA Cup fourth round game against Middlesbrough on Friday, Rangnick made played down the impact of Greenwood’s arrest on the rest of the team.

“In fact we had a good normal week of training with five training sessions including today,” he added.

“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.”

“Three weeks ago, Jesse didn’t want to leave, then he changed his mind,” Rangnick added. “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 we find a solution with our club I would allow him to leave. In the last couple of days things changed a little bit.”