“I received an invitation to the tournament in Burkina Faso, where sometimes scouts from Europe come to watch. This is a unique opportunity for me to become a professional player, when I get up. That flight, I was very scared, a fear that had nothing to do with football.
Burkina Faso is a neighboring country with Ivory Coast, and I was surprised that I would have to travel by plane, which I had never experienced before. I was about to step on a cylindrical iron machine and fly into the sky in the hope that everyone would survive the landing.
I am not familiar with the things on the plane, the flight attendant told me to fasten my seat belt, but “Where is that button”, “How do you fasten it”, “How do I straighten the seat”.
I was confused and kept mumbling, “The plane hasn’t taken off, I’m still not moving”.
And then the plane began to run on the runway, we tried to deal with the fear that was gripping us. Once up in the sky, that fear suddenly disappeared, like the streets of Abidjan fading through the window. I started to remember the places where I used to sell phones and cigarettes, all was not clear, only the airport remained, where I had just said goodbye to my father.
That flight changed my life.
…
Why am I telling you this story, because I am currently injured, for a long time I have not been able to play because I have just returned from surgery. But I was prepared for this, the life of a professional footballer is like a bubble, can take you high but immediately back to the ground with a serious injury, but things happened. to me in Africa is far more terrifying and terrible.
Bailly in his hometown of Ivory Coast before he was a professional player
During this time, I can reflect, and remember why I am here – the flight from Burkina Faso.
You guys just got to know my “fake” life, and now let’s find out what real life is like.
…
When I was 9 years old, I was still of school age and playing football in the small streets like any other child. I also have to help my mother- Appoline with the housework, we live in Bingerville with my brother Thierry, while my sister and father go to Abidjan to look for work.
When my father got a stable job my whole family wanted to move to Abidjan, everyone was happy there, however I don’t want to go to school anymore, I want to play football, professional football I’ve always wanted.
Eric Bailly’s family in Ivory Coast as a child
However, in Ivory Coast, it is strange for a father to let his child drop out of school, especially since he is a teacher at an elementary school. He is a very strict and disciplined person.
On the day I was 13 years old, my father made a surprise, when he let me pursue my passion for football, he said: “If you want to play football, just try it and do it.”
Then I heard from a friend that he came to watch me play, but contrary to my expectations, he just said: “Everyone said you played well, but the other players, too bad. bad”, he never praised me for playing well, but can be sure that, from that day on, my father paid more attention to my playing.
…
Two years later, I was playing in a tournament of the best names to win tickets to Burkina Faso, where scouts from the top European teams like Villarreal, Torino, Espanyol and several clubs French ministry.
I felt I did a good job, and went home hoping to get a call from the other club representatives. A few weeks passed, and everyone in the neighborhood knew about my playing at Burkina Faso, and my father also received advice from the neighbors.
“Sit down,” my father said and pointed me to the sofa. I think something is wrong.
“There was a club calling for him,” my father said, eyes fixed on my mother, who was also trembling with joy.
“Which team is it, Dad?” I asked nervously.
“Espanyol,” he replied curtly.
Espanyol was the first team Bailly played for in Europe
Unable to contain my emotions, I jumped out of my chair happily and hugged my mother. I thought to myself, “Unbelievable, this can’t be true”.
What shouldn’t have come true, came soon after.
…
The war in Ivory Coast happened, and the airport in Abidjan was blocked so I couldn’t go to Spain to play for Espanyol. It was like a knife stabbing me right in the heart. I don’t know if I still have a chance, while the battles continue to break out for months.
Fortunately, 10 months later, Espanyol says, they are still impressed with me, and want me to join the club, even if it’s just a trial offer.
I went to the airport again, and had 3 months in Europe, everyone cried, and saw me off to a new horizon, 3 months that felt like 3 years. My mother was the most worried, she gave me a thick coat, because I was worried that it was very cold there, I stood at the airport wearing that shirt, sweating like a bath.
A completely different flight, Air France, and then continued to Barcelona, it was December, when Ivory Coast was still very hot, and my mother was right, it was cold here. like cut.
A wonderful thing happened then, from a kid selling cigarettes, after 5 years, I was playing football in a top tournament in the world. When I received my first payment, I deposited it in the bank and sent it back to my family. Then the journey brought me to Villareal and only 18 months later, I was at Manchester United.
Everything has changed for me now, I’m famous at home now, like a star, but you know, it’s just the “fake” side of the life I have, it’s all fake .
…
It’s a life you almost cannot avoid after becoming a professional footballer. People can bring you up, but immediately criticize you when you lose and, more sadly, don’t look at you for who you really are.
I don’t like it, no matter what I do, I’m still Eric, and please treat me like a normal Eric.
Bailly in MU’s shirt
Of course, I really appreciate the life I have, I’ve worked so hard to get where I am right now. But when you are old, when your strength is gone, what will you do?, and what will you have left?
That’s when you’ll be back to real life, to the simple things, walking the streets of Manchester with my wife, Vannesa, and my eldest son, Yoan. I will invite Juan and Paul to dinner, like the other friends in Abidjan. I will go back to Ivory Coast and watch the kids play football.
Most importantly, it’s family, they will never betray you, never will.
Eric Bailly.
In the match Marseille beat Hyeres with a score of 2-0 in the third round of the 32nd French Cup taking place on January 8, 2023, Eric Bailly swung his leg and kicked Moussa N’Diaye’s chest in a situation to intercept the striker. Mauritania. This very powerful and dangerous kick caused the Hyeres striker to be hospitalized immediately.
Getting hit by Eric Bailly’s pain, Moussa N’Diaye suffered broken ribs, damage to the liver and lungs. Nearly 2 weeks after this scandalous kick, the Ivory Coast defender has just received a proper penalty.
According to the announcement of the Disciplinary Subcommittee of the French Football Federation, Eric Bailly was suspended for 7 matches. On the Marseille side, the Velodrome home team has no intention of appealing for the 28-year-old player.
Eric Bailly comes to Marseille on loan from MU in the summer of 2022. The contract of the Ivory Coast player expires in June 2023.
Going to Marseille to play more, but Eric Bailly constantly had bad luck. Before being suspended for 7 matches, the former Villarreal player had to miss 7 matches because of 2 injuries.
In total, Eric Bailly has only played 12 matches for Marseille, including 6 appearances in Ligue 1. Because of not impressing more than 6 months with Marseille, MU’s players hardly have the opportunity to stay in the team. France after this season.