COMMENT: Massive deal for Manchester United this week. Massive deal. And no, we're not talking about the Ivorian.
More on Eric Bailly later...
It's slipped under the radar, somewhat. But United have pulled off a coup this week. Real Madrid, specifically president Florentino Perez, have given up on prising David de Gea away from Old Trafford.
Let's put this into perspective. As good as Keylor Navas is, De Gea could finish the Euros regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world. A Spaniard. A Madrid lad, who's girlfriend wants to return home. The best in his position in the world. And a favourite of Florentino. Yet, he won't be turning out for the European champions next season. Instead, he's staying with United. The United of Jose Mourinho, sure. But also, a United relegated to the Europa League. De Gea staying at Old Trafford can't be underplayed.
How was it achieved? Well, no-one can take total credit. It was a combination of Mourinho, Zinedine Zidane - and Keylor.
He's close to Mourinho. And he gets along with Ed Woodward, United's vice-chairman exec. But Jorge Mendes' first loyalty is always to his client. The Portuguese super agent flew into Madrid earlier this week to meet with Florentino regarding several players on his books. But top of the agenda was De Gea.
De Gea wasn't pushing to leave United. But he needed clarity from Florentino. And while the president made it clear to Mendes his admiration, he couldn't over rule his coach - particularly after winning the Undecima. Zidane was satisfied with Keylor. He saw no reason to change. And with De Gea happy to carry on at United with a new manager installed, Florentino told Mendes there was no good reason to rock the boat.
Mourinho's presence was crucial. If Louis van Gaal had remained in charge, De Gea would be pushing to get out. Their relationship, in those opening weeks of the 2014 preseason, quickly fractured - and never truly recovered.
As crazy as it seems today, Van Gaal arrived at United with no high opinion of De Gea. Indeed, the great irony is that he wanted the Spaniard sold and replaced by Keylor, who at the time was available from Levante. De Gea learned of Van Gaal's plans through Spanish backchannels and never fully forgave the Dutchman.
That De Gea will start next season between the posts at Old Trafford owes much to Woodward. It was he who argued De Gea's corner during that first preseason under Van Gaal. And it was he who somehow managed to thwart Florentino on deadline day last summer. It left Keylor in tears at Madrid airport (twice in a year he'd come close to joining United), but in the end, the fiasco worked out well for all involved.
It's difficult to understand the vitriol that was thrown at Woodward in the aftermath of De Gea's on-off move. You can accept Florentino's moaning and the spite coming from the Madrid press. But why the same in England? Woodward had just prevented the Premier League from losing one of it's biggest names. It wasn't smooth. But these situations never are. It's baffling why many who rely on the Premier League for their living were so bitter about Woodward keeping one it's stars away from a rival competition.
In Castellon they're celebrating Fernando Roig, the Villarreal president. Eighteen months ago he spent less than €6 million to take Eric Bailly from Espanyol. This week, the Ivorian was sold to United for a club record €31 million.
Roig was always in control of negotiations. As much as it seems a smash-and-grab by United, Roig was keen to cash in on Bailly this summer. In negotiations with Barcelona over the sale of Denis Suarez, he offered Bailly to Robert Fernandez, Barca's sporting director, for a price of €25 million. Both Robert and coach Luis Enrique were keen. Enrique, particularly, wanted to know more. Bailly, he told Robert, was the type who could fit into his playing system. But after 48 hours of deliberation, Enrique informed Robert he'd prefer to go for a local over the African.
Meanwhile, United were in touch. But they weren't alone.
"Another English team, not Manchester United, were speaking with the club," a Villarreal source told Tribalfootball.com.
"Who? Who?"
"Sorry, it would be unfair for me to name them..."
However, local press did mention, when news of Barca's interest emerged, that Arsenal and Manchester City had also been following Bailly this season.
For the player, it was a whirlwind. He began the week at home, in Ivory Coast. When United had made it clear they were willing to negotiate a price, Bailly flew back to Spain. On Monday all three parties had agreed terms. Tuesday was his medical. And at noon on Wednesday he put pen to paper on a four-year contract.
Like Sir Alex, Mourinho had made his first signing as a United manager a defender. And they're actually similar players. 29 years ago Viv Anderson arrived from Arsenal. Like Viv, Bailly can play at both fullback and centre-half. Though, of course, they joined United at the opposite ends of their careers.
€31 million isn't a snip. And at this stage in Bailly's football life, it's really all about potential. But less than 12 months ago, we were all saying much the same about a certain French lad from Monaco. And that deal didn't turn out too badly...
