Why I censured Guardiola for Mourinho – Eric Bailly

Manchester United's Eric Bailly has conceded he could have been playing for their adversaries, Manchester City, in front of Wednesday's Derby at the Etihad Stadium. 

 

City were the leaders to sign the Ivorian guard, before Jose Mourinho rang him to take care of business.

Bailly, who was likewise being pursued by Barcelona, says he thought it was a joke when his telephone rang and the guest recognized himself as Mourinho.

"I was in the Ivory Coast, I got called from a Portuguese number, he ­introduced himself however I simply didn't trust it at first," Bailly described.

"Before I came to Man United, it was City who had been watching me. In my psyche, I was going there. Be that as it may, then everything changed.

"It felt like Mourinho was the person who truly needed me. He demonstrated more intrigue, he rang me and that is the reason I'm at Man United.

“Man City contacted my agent, Barcelona as well were talking to my agent, but they weren’t as interested in me as Mourinho. He really pushed for the move.

“Of course the club is ­important when you sign, but the manager is so important. If a player feels like the manager wants you, wants to sign you, it gives you extra motivation.”