Manchester United ace Eric Bailly as important as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba for Jose Mourinho – claims David De Gea
Young centre-back has made a flying start to life at Old Trafford and can now be considered a key player
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MOVE over Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – fellow summer signing Eric Bailly has emerged as Manchester United’s key man.
That’s according to teammate David De Gea, who reckons the powerful centre-back has caught everyone off-guard with his flying start to life at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho moved quickly to sign Bailly from Villarreal after taking over from Louis van Gaal, with United paying £30million for the Ivorian’s signature.
Despite being billed as ‘one for the future’, Bailly was thrust into the starting XI during pre-season and hasn’t looked back since.
The likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones haven’t been given a sniff since, with Daley Blind also impressing at the back.
And De Gea reckons Bailly’s physicality has made United a real force to be reckoned with this year, with Pogba and Ibrahimovic also transforming the Red Devils through sheer size and strength.
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De Gea told : “[Bailly has been] a great signing. Eric’s come in and surprised us all very quickly. I remember when I first came to England and, trust me, it can be hard early on but he’s flying.
“He is physical, strong, technically confident and super-fast. He only speaks a little English but we have lots of Spaniards in the dressing room and Paul Pogba speaks French, of course.
“He’s a big presence and, when I stand in the tunnel and look behind me, he is one of the new big, powerful players along with Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic that gives us real presence and stature this season.”