FORTUNE: BAILLY PERFECT FOR PREMIER LEAGUE
Former Manchester United winger Quinton Fortune believes new signing Eric Bailly has all the attributes needed to succeed as a defender in the Barclays Premier League.
Ivory Coast international centre-back Bailly completed his switch from Villarreal on a four-year contract on Wednesday, becoming the first signing of Jose Mourinho’s tenure.
Fortune, the first of four previous African internationals to play for United, has watched Bailly in action while commentating on La Liga games and feels the 22-year-old’s pace and strength make him ideally suited to the English game.
“He’s a very good signing,” the South African told MUTV. “The first thing I realised when watching him was that he’s very young – he’s only 22 but the way he was playing, I thought he was more experienced.
“He’s an out-and-out defender who can play across the back four. He’s quick, good in the air and, when he gets the ball down on the floor, he can pass it.
“Not a lot of people will know about him but he’s a good defender. People will need to have some patience at the beginning but he has all the attributes to play in the Premier League.”
Quinton himself made the transition from Spanish to English football when he joined the Reds from Atletico Madrid in 1999. And while he expects Bailly to notice a big difference in tempo, he’s confident the Ivorian can handle the pressure of playing for United.
“He’ll definitely feel the pace!” Fortune said. “In Spain, the play is a little slower and more tactical, whereas the majority of games in the Premier League are high-tempo and you need to be on your toes all the time as a defender.
“He’s played against Real Madrid and Barcelona, and he’s an Africa Cup of Nations winner, so he’s had that exposure and has been put under some pressure.
“But it’s a completely different situation playing for Manchester United. The only way to find out is to throw him in.”
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