Bruno Fernandes has sent a message to his Manchester United teammate Eric Bailly after the Ivorian completed his season-long loan move to Marseille.
Marseille have an obligation to buy the centre-back if they qualify for the Champions League, like they did last season, and he plays a certain number of games.
The French giants will also cover the 28-year-old’s wages and according to Spotrac, United’s number three earns £80,000-per-week.
Erik ten Hag sanctioned Bailly’s exit with the Ivory Coast international being the Dutchman’s fifth-choice centre-back following the arrival of former Ajax man Lisandro Martinez.
Bruno Fernandes sends message to Eric Bailly after completing Marseille loan move
Bailly was Jose Mourinho’s first Manchester United signing six years ago and the Reds paid £30m to sign the African from La Liga side Villarreal.
Upon Bailly’s arrival the now AS Roma manager said: “Eric has the potential to become one of the best around.”
There is no denying that when fit, available and on form, Bailly has lived up to that billing, but his time in Manchester has been hampered with injuries.
He’s only made 113 appearances for the Red Devils across six seasons and 38 of those came in his maiden campaign with the club.
Having signed a new contract with the Reds in April 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought World Cup winner and four-time Champions League winner Raphael Varane to the club.
Martinez’s arrival this summer meant that Bailly faced a nigh on impossible task featuring under the former Ajax manager.
Bailly did feature in pre-season, but he didn’t form a part in any of the matchday squads for the three Premier League games so far.
Bailly joins a Marseille side who will compete in this season’s Champions League and have signed former United flop Alexis Sanchez this summer.
Marseille could sign Bailly for £5m which would represent a £25m loss on the player, which is yet again grim reading for Manchester United’s recruitment team.
Ahead of his new venture, Bailly has been wished well by Bruno Fernandes.
On his Instagram story, United’s number eight wrote a post which translates: “You deserve the best. I love you so much brother.”
Bailly could make his Marseille debut on Sunday when Igor Tudor’s side travel to face Nice.
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