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Bailly the real jewell in United's crown

Bailly the real jewell in United's crown


Bailly the real jewell in Uniteds  crown

Manchester United have made some huge signings as Jose Mourinho looks to shape the United squad to his standards.

The signings of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eric Bailly and Paul Pogba for over £140 Million are a clear statement of intent from the Special One.

Self-proclaimed legend and all round footballing genius Zlatan Ibrahimovic has also joined the revolution. United and Jose mean business, make no mistakes about it. They have broken the world transfer record and reportedly outbid Real Madrid in signing Paul Pogba.

The addition of a classy, hard working player in Mkhitaryan will add much needed creativity and energy to a United side lacking so much of it in recent seasons. Mkhitaryan has been carefully bedded into English football in United first two competitive games this season and we are yet to see exactly how Mourinho plans to use him. Given the excellent track record he comes with from Germany, it may only be a matter of time before he begins to show his quality. Pogba's arrival is a statement of intent from both United and Mourinho. There may have been some figures inside Old Trafford who were reluctant to spend 89 Million on a player who left the club under controversial circumstances for Juventus in 2012. But Jose Mourinho is a winner, at all costs. He gets what he wants and he wanted Pogba. He adds steel, flair and class to a midfield that has failed to reach the required standards of a club as huge as United. Zlatan is well.... Zlatan. A player who is the stand out man everywhere he goes. With a character to match his ability, The Premier League has long lacked his addition. Zlatan has shown a willingness to prove himself in England and looking at his first two games, long may it continue. 

But its the addition of Eric Bailly that may well prove to be the key signing in United's quest to reclaim there place at the top of English football. For too long the backline at Old Trafford has lacked a composed, non nonsense central defender. Bailly is all that and more, His performances for Villarreal last season were consistently stand-out and there was sure to be others interested in the summer. As a regular La Liga watcher, I seen a defender who's decision making at key times was exceptional. A defender comfortable in possession of the ball. Someone with excellent reading of the game at such a young age who was growing as a player as the season went on. Bailly can also be non-nonsense in his defending and will prove to be everything United are lacking at the back. 

There has been doubts about Daily Blind and Marcos Rojo's performances in the last two seasons. While Rojo impressed at left back at the 2014 World Cup for Argentina, Blind also came to prominence under to be United boss Louie Van Gal in Brazil. He stood out at both left wing back and holding midfield, as Holland claimed 3rd place. Bailly is everything required in a Manchester United centre half and has the ability to make the major difference of all United's summer business. His performances in the Community Shield victory over Leicester and the 3-1 victory at Bournemouth have already show signs Bailly has made a difference to United at the back. Weather or not Jose decides to bring in another defender before the window closes, Bailly will be key to any success United have this season. By the end of it he may well prove to be a steal at £30 million. 



Anthony Kavanagh