Manchester United had a terrible season last term, missing out on Champions League qualification, but one of their allegedly lesser players will get to play in Europe’s best club competition. Eric Bailly will play for Marseille as a loaned player this season.The 28-year-old Ivorian centre-back has accepted to join last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up on a loan-to-buy arrangement. Les Marseilles will have an obligation to buy the defender if they qualify for the Champions League again and he plays a certain number of games. Marseille will also cover the defender’s wages.##NAJAVA_MECA_6588301##West Ham and Monaco have also attempted to secure United’s out-of-favour man, but he accepted the call from Stade Velodrome instead.Bailly signed a new contract at United last year that runs until June 2024, with the option of a further year. However, Lisandro Martinez’s arrival pushed him down the pecking order, with Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof all preferred by the Red Devils’ coach Erik ten Hag.Eric Bailly has agreed to a loan move to Marseille. The deal comes with a mandatory buy clause if Marseille qualifies to the Champions League.📸: Tom Purslow (Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/HqV2tq64jh— Sports Brief (@sportsbriefcom) August 23, 2022 Bailly joined United from Villarreal in 2016 for a fee in the region of $40 million but a string of injuries has hampered him during his United career. He made just four top-flight appearances last season, and although he was given playing time by Ten Hag in pre-season games, the Ivory Coast international is set to depart the club.
