Manchester United Defender Subjected To Barcelona Interest: Should Rangnick Offload Him?

According to Daily Star, Barcelona are eyeing a summer move for Manchester United defender Eric Bailly. The centre-back is facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford due to his lack of game-time, which has put the Catalans on red alert. Bailly’s current deal at Manchester United expires in 2024, but the Red Devils have the option to extend his contract to another year.

Eric Bailly’s Struggles At Manchester United

Eric Bailly has been a part of the Manchester United setup since 2016. He was brought in to add more quality to the United defence that was struggling at the time. However, over the years, the defender’s progress has been marred by a series of injuries that have kept him on the sidelines.

Perhaps more importantly, Bailly has been a victim of Manchester United’s lavish policies in the transfer market. Especially in the last few years, the Ivorian has fallen behind Harry Maguire and most recently, Raphael Varane in the pecking order. It has restricted his overall game-time to just 217 minutes of league action this term.

In fact, Bailly has featured in over 1,000 minutes of league action in only one of his five completed seasons at Old Trafford. He is on course to enduring another difficult campaign, laden with injuries and lack of game-time.

Should Ralf Rangnick Sanction His Departure?

Ralf Rangnick won’t remain the Manchester United manager next season. But he may end up playing a bigger role in the club’s transfer policy by taking up a consultancy role.

Given the way the German tactician has treated Bailly so far, it is evident that the Ivorian has fallen behind in the pecking order. His dogged defensive abilities are not valued at Old Trafford, and it appears the club is favouring a more technically astute centre-back like Manuel Akanji.

Hence, the sale of Bailly could make sense for all parties involved. Manchester United, for one, could yield a significant transfer revenue from the sale of the defender, who still has over two years left in his contract. An exit from Old Trafford should benefit the player as well, as he looks to revive his career after a disappointing spell in the Premier League.

Barcelona could be an interesting destination for Bailly. The former Villarreal starlet has significant experience in La Liga and could prove to be an ideal alternative for the likes of Ronald Araujo and Gerard Pique next season.