Manchester United accept extending contract of this Manchester United player was a mistake
According to Manchester Evening News via Daily Mail, Manchester United have ‘accepted’ that handing a three-year contract to Eric Bailly was a ‘mistake,’ as the defender nears an exit from the club.
Bailly’s contract was extended due to former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward’s strategy of ‘tying down peripheral players to new deals to increase their resale value’.
The report also adds that Bailly made an ultimatum to the club on the morning of the Europa League final last season. He threatened to leave the club, just a month after signing his three-year contract, if he didn’t start against Villarreal.
He did go on to start in what was a losing effort for the Red Devils, though part of that was due to Maguire only being fit enough to start on the bench.
Bailly is reportedly unhappy with life at Manchester United due to his lack of opportunities and has been frustrated that out-of-form captain Maguire has kept his place in the starting line-up ahead of him.
Bailly’s resentment of Maguire’s privileges went public when he endorsed the United captain’s possible demotion at Arsenal last month in an Instagram comment. Maguire was dropped but Victor Lindelof retained his place next to the starting Raphael Varane.
Since joining the club for £30million from Villarreal in the summer of 2016, Bailly has made 113 appearances for the club, scoring one goal.
Though his contract expires in 2024, it’s reported that he hopes to leave the club during the upcoming summer transfer window.