The English midfielder meets former club West Ham on Sunday after turning down the chance to go back to East London when David Moyes takes his side to the City Ground.
There was a feeling of frustration at how long the Lingard saga went on within West Ham and Lingard has been criticized for joining a newly promoted squad for a club that is embarking on their second consecutive season of European football.
While West Ham was hesitant about the former Manchester United star’s wage demands, Lingard emphasized that he had more lucrative options this summer, downplaying suggestions that his move to Forest was based solely on the financial data.
“I could have gone abroad for much, much, much more money, like money that changes my life,” he told Sky Sports.
“So to me it’s really just nonsense. I don’t really like reading into those things, they were my decisions.
“The owners were very strong in their approach to bringing me here. They flew me to London, they went overboard to do what they could to get me here.”