Ivory Coast Defender Eric Bailly Accuses Manchester United of Favouring English Players Over Other Nationals

Ivory Coast Defender Eric Bailly Accuses Manchester United of Favouring English Players Over Other Nationals

Lukman Mumuni
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:11 PM
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  • Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly has lamented over the treatment of players who are not English at Manchester United
  • The on-loan Marseille centre-back believes English players were favoured over players of other nationalities
  • Bailly joined Manchester United from Villareal in 2016 but struggled to break into the first team and has been shipped on loan

Eric Bailly has blamed favouritism for his struggles at English giants Manchester United.

The 28-year-old joined Olympique Marseille in the summer transfer window on a season-long loan following difficulties to get regular play time.

However, ahead of Marseille's UEFA Champions League clash against Tottenham, the Ivorian centre-back accused Manchester United of favouring English players.

Eric Bailly, Ivory Coast, Manchester United, Marseille
Eric Bailly has accused Manchester United of favouring English players. Credit: @ManUtd
Source: Twitter
"The club should avoid favouring English players and give everyone a chance," Bailly said in quotes carried by The Times.

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"[The club should] encourage competition in the dressing room, not just look out for some. I've always had the feeling that the national player was prioritised.
"That doesn't happen at Chelsea or other big Premier League clubs. Some people take it for granted that they are going to start, and that weakens the team.
"Luckily [Erik] Ten Hag has a lot of character and I hope he can change that dynamic."

Eric Bailly made 70 appearances for Manchester United in his six years at the club, winning the Europa League and the 2016 Community Shield.

Drogba applauds Bailly's move to Marseille

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ivorian legend Didier Drogba is delighted with Eric Bailly, who has left English Premier League club Manchester United to join French side Marseille.

The defender has moved to the Ligue 1 outfit on a season-long loan which includes a possibility of a permanent transfer at the end of the season.

Bailly started in just three Premier League matches last season, having fallen out of favour with every United manager since Jose Mourinho in 2017.

Football stars react to Bailly's Instagram post

Football stars shared a light moment in the comment section of Eric Bailly's Instagram post.

Bailly uploaded a picture of him manhandling Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia after Manchester United's recent game against Aston Villa.

Bailly started in just three Premier League matches last season, having fallen out of favour with every United manager since Jose Mourinho in 2017.

Authors
Lukman Mumuni photo
Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.
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