Jesse Lingard Returns to England Amidst Corinthians' Struggles
Jesse Lingard’s remarkable football journey has brought him back to England once again – but this time only briefly, and under worrying circumstances for Corinthians.
The former Manchester United midfielder, who left Old Trafford in 2022 after more than 200 appearances and that unforgettable extra-time winner in the 2016 FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, has been granted permission to travel home to deal with family matters.
Corinthians confirmed the news in a statement on their official X account, explaining that “the attacker Jesse Lingard was authorized by the football board and by coach Fernando Diniz to travel to England, this Thursday (05/28), to attend to family matters.” They added that the 33-year-old “will be released from the match against Grêmio, next Saturday (05/30), for the Brazilian Championship.”
For a club already walking a tightrope in the league, it is far from ideal.
From Carrington to Corinthians – and into the history books
Lingard’s career since leaving Manchester United has been anything but predictable. A short spell at Nottingham Forest was followed by a bold move to South Korea with FC Seoul. Two years in Asia hardened his edges, and then came another surprising chapter: Brazil, and the famous white shirt of Corinthians.
He arrived in São Paulo as a curiosity. He quickly became something more.
Earlier this year, Lingard made history by becoming the first Englishman ever to score for a Brazilian club. He then went one step further, becoming the first English player to score in the Copa Libertadores, South America’s answer to the Champions League.
Those milestones have given real weight to a stint some expected to be little more than a late-career adventure.
So far, Lingard has played 17 matches for Corinthians, scoring two goals and supplying one assist. His most recent outing was a 45-minute appearance in a 3-1 Serie A win over Clube Atlético Mineiro, a result that offered brief respite in a difficult domestic campaign.
A squad under strain
Domestically, Corinthians are under pressure. They sit 15th in the Brazilian Serie A table, only two places and three points above the relegation zone. Every fixture carries jeopardy. Every absence is magnified.
Lingard being ruled out of the upcoming clash with Grêmio strips Fernando Diniz of experience and attacking craft at a time when calm heads are at a premium. The Englishman has not dominated the statistics, but his presence, movement and ability to knit play together have added a different texture to Corinthians’ forward line.
The contrast with their continental form is stark. In the Copa Libertadores, Corinthians have been transformed, topping Group E after six matches and looking far more like a side built for big nights than one scrapping near the bottom at home.
That split personality defines their season so far: anxious weekends in the league, confident midweek strides across South America.
Lingard’s next step
For now, family comes first. Corinthians have been clear: Lingard’s trip is sanctioned, his absence accepted, and his return anticipated.
What it means in footballing terms is another question. Can Corinthians steady themselves in the league without him while maintaining their surge in the Libertadores? And when Lingard steps back off the plane in Brazil, will he be rejoining a relegation fight, a continental charge – or both, at full tilt?
