Manchester United’s £30 million forgotten man Eric Bailly could leave for a huge loss this summer with Real Betis keen to offer him a fresh start in La Liga.
At this stage, you’d be forgiven for assuming the Red Devils would struggle to sell Jack Grealish a cold pint on a searing afternoon in the Sahara.
It’s a damning indictment of Manchester United’s abysmal record when it comes to bringing in big fees for departing stars that David Beckham’s £25 million move to Real Madrid all the way back in 2003 remains the club’s fifth-biggest export of all time, behind only Angel di Maria, Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dan James.
The Red Devils lost Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani for free last summer. They made big losses on Ashely Young, Mattia Darmian, Marouane Fellaini and Memphis Depay.
Eric Bailly, meanwhile, could leave for as little as £2 million. Seven years after becoming the first signing of the Jose Mourinho era when he arrived from Villarreal for £30 million.
Manchester United could finally move on Eric Bailly
The reported £2 million asking price is reported by the Daily Mail. Bailly is one of a number of players who casual observers will be staggered to learn is still, technically speaking, a Manchester United player.
The now 29-year-old Ivory Coast international has made just 20 Premier League appearances since the start of 2019/20, albeit largely due to the kind of nigglng injury that has wrecked his Red Devils career.
Now, with just 12 months left on his contract, Bailly could go for £28 million less than United paid for him in the first place.
Marseille have already opted against triggering the £5 million option-to-buy clause in his contract, per Fabrizio Romano. Bailly started a grand total of five Ligue 1 games for Igor Tudor’s third-placed side.
A return to Spain may now be on the cards with Real Betis.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side have become something of a rescue centre for the Premier League’s would-be stars of yesterday; Ayoeze Perez and Hector Bellerin passing through, with Marc Roca now on his way from relegated Leeds.
Bailly’s likely departure comes at a time in which United are scouring the market for new right-sided defenders. Kim Min-Jae appears likely to end up at Bayern Munich. But Jurrien Timber, Axel Disasi and Jean-Clair Todibo are potentially excellent alternatives.
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