Unwanted at Manchester United by Erik ten Hag, a loan was organised with Marseille to give Eric Bailly a chance to play regularly.
Knowing he wouldn’t be going to the World Cup, since Ivory Coast failed to qualify for the competition, this season was just about staying fit and getting game time for the defender, who got off to a good start with the Ligue 1 side.
However, injury struck again in the Champions League fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt, and the player has been missing since, making his return to the bench for the 3-0 win over Angers SCO on Friday.
The Manchester United loanee’s next chance to play could be against Sporting CP this week, but that isn’t a guarantee.
The last thing Marseille will want is to rush him back, and manager Igor Tudor, in the press conference before the Champions League fixture, explained what the plan was for Bailly.
He said, relayed by La Provence: “Bailly is very important for us, he arrived late. He doesn’t have the same preparation. I’m really waiting for the World Cup break when he’ll be able to train for a month with us.”
As well as loaning him to Marseille, Manchester United agreed for an option to buy to be included in the deal, meaning the Ligue 1 side will be able to keep the Ivory Coast international if he impresses them enough during the 2022-23 campaign.
