The 23-year-old lamented the Red Devils' decision to allow the France midfielder to join Juventus and hopes his side end their wait for trophies soon
Jesse Lingard has suggested that Paul Pogba should still be playing for Manchester United, insisting that the team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2011 were all expected to make the breakthrough together at the club.
The 23-year-old has broken into the club's first team after being tipped for a bright future following his success in the club's youth ranks - a triumph he shared alongside Pogba as well as Ravel Morrison.
Pogba eventually made the move to Juventus on a free transfer in 2012, departing after failing to make his mark on former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, before bursting onto the scene in Turin.
And Lingard has lamented the decision to allow the midfielder to depart given the France international - alongside members of his youth cohort - had been widely tipped to become stars at Old Trafford.
"Pogba and Ravel could both still be playing for United," he told Sky Sports. "They were both massive talents. Ravel off the cuff, Pogba with strength and skill in midfield.
"Most coaches thought that team would all break through together."
The attacker's development was continued on loan with spells at Leicester City, Birmingham City, Brighton and Derby County, before establishing himself as a regular in the senior side this season.
Lingard - who also revealed which stars he looked up to as a youngster moving through the youth ranks - says this is something he remains grateful to Ferguson for.
"I remember him meeting me and my family at Old Trafford and he said, 'At 22 or 23, Jesse will come of age and be a Manchester United player'," he added. "Now that's what happened, so thank you Sir Alex.
"I used to idolise [current United assistant coach Ryan] Giggs and [Paul] Scholes. With Giggs it's great to still have him around and to be able to go to him for guidance and help. Scholes is so humble and just an absolute legend."
However, the loss of his fellow starlets coincided with a low ebb at United following Ferguson's retirement, with the Premier League giants trophy-less since 2013 and bowing out of the Champions League group stages this season.
As a fan, Lingard has stated the urgency of the need to redress the balance, concluding: "Over the years United have won plenty of trophies but lately we've not been doing it. We need to get back to that.
"Manchester United need to be in the Champions League."
- Goal