Jesse Lingard’s move to South Korea hasn’t gone as planned, and it seems that his on-field struggles are affecting his social media presence as well. The former Manchester United star signed a two-year deal with FC Seoul last month, making it the biggest transfer in K League history. However, Lingard is yet to make his mark on the pitch, waiting for his first start and goal while facing criticism from his manager.
Off the field, Lingard’s Instagram account has taken a hit. According to reports, he lost 36,000 followers between March 2 and April 2. This comes as a surprise considering he gained 59,191 followers in his first month after signing for FC Seoul. Despite the drop, Lingard still boasts an impressive 9.4 million followers on the platform.
On the pitch, Lingard has only made three appearances for FC Seoul, all of them coming off the bench. Prior to his debut, a special “Lingard zone” was created outside the stadium where fans queued for hours to buy merchandise. However, his performance on the day seemed to disappoint some supporters, with reports suggesting that he was booed. Since then, Lingard has been booked twice and missed the last two games due to injury.
His manager, Kim Gi-dong, has expressed his disappointment in Lingard’s performances. He has considered removing the player from the team, stating that he believes a player who doesn’t run for a few minutes is not a true football player. Gi-dong emphasized the importance of hard work and dedication on the pitch, stating that fame alone doesn’t win football games.
It seems that Lingard’s struggles in South Korea are not just limited to his performances on the field. With his social media following taking a hit and criticism from his manager, Lingard will need to work hard to turn things around and prove himself in his new club. As he continues to adapt to the team and build chemistry with his teammates, Lingard will have to show the performance that made him a fan favorite during his glory days at Manchester United.