“I had no words” – Player on call to join Manchester United, and the Red Devils manager who impressed him

Eric Bailly dropped further down the pecking order following Lisandro Martínez’s arrival at Manchester United in the summer window.

In need of regular game time, something that he has not enjoyed in England in the past few years, the defender joined Marseille on a season-long loan deal in August. The Ligue 1 side retain an option to make his stay permanent.

Bailly arrived at Manchester United in 2016 and was José Mourinho’s first signing at Old Trafford.

The centre-back went on to make 24 league starts in his debut season in England. Since the start of the 2017/18 season, he made 33 starts in the Premier League, out of which three of came during the last campaign.

During an interview with L’Equipe, the Ivory Coast international revealed how a chat with Mourinho convinced him to leave Villarreal for Manchester United in 2016.

“The first contact was on the phone. I was in Abidjan when he called me, I see a Portuguese number, I don’t really know, I pick up, and I hear: ‘Hello, it’s José Mourinho.’ There, I had no words (laughs),” Bailly said.

“We talked a bit, he knew that there were interests from several clubs in England, and, for him, the best way to convince me was to call me personally. He told me that he had followed me for years, that he had seen me grow at Espanyol and then at Villarreal.

“The first two seasons in Manchester were the best, they are good memories. Then there was the accumulation of injuries, and less playing time.”

“Mourinho is someone very demanding, who has a lot of character. He’s called the Special One and he’s really special. He’s been a big part of my progression.”

The Manchester United owned player has made six appearances in all competitions this term for Marseille and will be hoping the situation improves further for him in France.