By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa
Ivory Coast international defender, Eric Bailly (27) has penned a new deal with Manchester United FC that will run till June 2024 with the option of a further one year extension, the club has confirmed.
Speaking to the club’s media, Bailly expressed his happiness and desire to stay with the Red Devils.
He indicated that signing a new contract to extend his stay at Old Trafford is like a new challenge in his career.
“I’m very happy,” he told club media. “This decision is something I didn’t have to think about, I love this club and I love playing for Manchester United. I’m happy and so are my family, everything is good. Now the moment with my injury has passed and I’m fit and feel good, and that’s it. A new contract is like a new challenge and I’m ready for this.”
The 27-year-old central defender also said the club’s decision to offer him a new contract outlines that there are still confident in his services despite him being prone to injuries.
“The new contract shows the group has confidence in me – the coach, the staff and the players and, for me, that is very important,” he said. “And that’s why I made this decision to stay at the club.
“For me, it’s the dream to be here,” he added. “Now it’s my fifth season and I hope to be here a long time.
“We are in a good position. We have the Europa League and we are second in the league and that is very good,” the defender told the club media.
The CĂ´te d’Ivoire defender also revealed that he is hopefull Manchester United will lift the 2020/21 Uefa Europa trophy.
“We hope we can win this trophy [Europa League] – it is very important for us and for the fans and for the season. We want to finish well in the Premier League as well, I’m sure we will,” he revealed, “I hope I can be ready and I don’t get any injuries and to be strong and finish the season well. I hope to win the Europa League this season.”
Furthermore, he said his biggest dream is to win the English Premier League tittle.
“My dream is to win the Premier League, that’s my big dream.”
Since joning the Reds from Villareal in 2017 under former coach Jose Mourinho, the 27-year-old’s major silverware with the 21 time champions is the Europa Cup they won in his debutant season (2017).
Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told the Man United media that he is delighted with Bailly’s new contract.
“I am pleased that Eric has signed this new contract. He is still learning and improving all of the time under the coaches here, he said, “Eric has improved his robustness since my time as manager and he will continue to play a significant part in the squad.”
Whilst, reports emerging from England indicate that the defender turned down offers from a number of Italian and Spanish clubs.
