Villarreal has already made its first reinforcement official in this winter market with the announcement of the arrival of Eric Bailly. The Ivory Coast defender returns to the La Plana club after eight seasons in which he has worn the shirts of Manchester United (six seasons), Olympique de Marseille and Besiktas. Precisely, he left the Turkish team last Friday to join Villarreal as a free agent and sign until 2025. The footballer will join the group in the morning work session this Sunday
In this way Marcelino adds one more force to a low defense with the more than possible departure of Gabbia to Milan, the call of Mandi by Algeria to compete in the African Cup and the injuries of Albiol and Foyth . The footballer must contribute his athletic ability and aerial play in the set pieces that are doing so much damage this season for Villarreal.
A young Bailly, only 20 years old and with five first division appearances for Spain, arrived at Villarreal in the winter market of the 2014/15 season in exchange for six million euros.. During a year and a half he earned a position in the La Plana club and grew as a defender under the guidance of a demanding Marcelino. A progress so evident that it caught the attention of José Mourio, who signed him in the summer of 2016 for United in exchange for 38 million euros, at that time the most important sale in the history of the club.
In the English team, in which he played for six seasons, he lost prominence over the years. In this way he went from playing 37 games as a starter in his first campaign, to only accumulating 63 more appearances during the next five. Last season the African footballer went on loan to Olympique de Marseille, where he played 22 games. This season, after his relationship with Manchester ended, he signed for Besiktas, where he has only played eight games and has suffered an ordeal. Along with four other teammates, Vicent Aboubakar, Jean Onana, Valentin Rosier and Rachid Ghezzal, he was removed from the team in mid-December.
Bailly’s is expected to not be the only arrival to the Castellón team. Without ruling out another defensive player, the yellow leadership is combing the market in search of a wing player to make up for the absence due to injury of Yeremi Pino
