Manchester United confirm Pogba and Lingard departures

13-time Premier League champions Manchester United have confirmed Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard as the latest exits from the club.

This comes after Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata confirmed their exits in early May when they played their last home match at Old Trafford.

Two more exits see the club lose four midfielders, depleting the squad severely and necessitating some serious transfer business in the coming months.

Both Pogba’s and Lingard’s contracts ran out at the end of the season and the two midfielders opted against renewals. United were unwilling to renew Lingard, however, despite blocking the midfielder’s exit in the January transfer window for a fee.

The Red Devils tried to convince Pogba, however, but the 2018 World Cup winner and his agent at the time, Mino Raiola, chose against it. Pogba has gone ahead with his decision not to renew after Raiola’s death and will now be leaving Old Trafford after seven seasons over two stints.

United statement on Pogba exit

On Pogba’s exit, the club said via a statement on their official website: “The club can announce that Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United at the end of June, upon the expiry of his contract.

“Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Paul on his successful career, and thank him for his contributions to Manchester United.

“We wish him all the best for the next steps on a remarkable journey.”

The Frenchman is due for a return to Juventus for a second stint but is also being courted by Paris Saint-Germain. The Old Lady have made an offer of a three-year contract worth €7.5 million-per-annum but he has not made his decision yet.

United statement on Lingard

On Lingard’s exit, the club said via a statement on their official website: “Manchester United can confirm that Jesse Lingard will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of June.

“An academy graduate and dyed-in-the-wool Red, Jesse has been with United for over 20 years, having originally joined our Under-9s team in 2001.”

Lingard came through the club’s academy and has spent a total of 20 years at the club. He became a senior player in the 2014/15 season and played a total of 232 games, scoring 35 goals for the club.

He won the FA Cup, the Community Shield, the Carabao Cup, the UEFA Europa League in his time at the club as well.

He is linked to Newcastle United and with a possible return to West Ham United, where he spent the last six months of the 2020/21 season on loan and played his best club football since making his professional debut.