Al Nassr in talks to sign Man Utd defender Eric Bailly

Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr are advancing in negotiations to secure the signing of Manchester United defender Eric Bailly, per Marc Mechenoua. 

The 29-year-old seems poised to bid farewell to Old Trafford after a seven-year stint with the club and is now on the verge of becoming part of a wave of stars making their way to the Middle East this summer.

At Al Nassr, Bailly will reunite with former Manchester United teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Alex Telles.

Bailly initially joined Manchester United from Villarreal in 2016 under the management of Jose Mourinho. 

Despite showing early promise, his progress in England has been hindered by injuries. 

Nevertheless, he made 113 appearances for the Red Devils, contributing to their success in clinching the Europa League and EFL Cup.

However, the arrival of Erik ten Hag as manager last season saw Bailly drop down the pecking order at Manchester United. 

Consequently, he went on loan to Marseille for game time, but the spell in France proved challenging, leading to his return to Old Trafford after Marseille declined to make the loan permanent.

While Real Betis showed interest in acquiring Bailly’s services, the defender is nearing a move to the Gulf nation, where he will secure a lucrative three-year contract.

Saudi Arabian clubs have been investing heavily in European players, offering tempting sums to entice them to play in their league. 

High-profile names like Marcelo Brozovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Roberto Firmino, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Jota, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and many others have already made the move to the region. 

This influx of talent is part of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious efforts to elevate its league to a world-class standard.

As the talks between Al Nassr and Eric Bailly progress, United fans await official confirmation of the transfer that could see them receive a substantial sum to pursue top transfer targets. The player will also get a clean slate in Saudi Arabia.