Eric Bailly has bemoaned Cristiano Ronaldo's premature exit from Manchester United after his second spell came to an end just over a year ago.
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Ronaldo left United in controversial circumstancesBailly says he was still 'best player in the world'Insists CR7 should have been made to 'feel important'WHAT HAPPENED?
The Portugal superstar was forced out of United in November 2022 after comments made to Piers Morgan denigrating multiple aspects of the club, including manager Erik ten Hag, with a move to Saudi outfit Al-Nassr made official two months later. And Bailly feels Ronaldo's experience at United was not befitting of his status under Ten Hag, as the centre-back believes "the best player in the world" should be treated as such.
AdvertisementGetty WHAT BAILLY SAID ABOUT RONALDO'S EXIT
Ronaldo scored 18 league goals in 30 games in 2021-22 after his sensation return to Old Trafford from Juventus, but fell out of favour after Ten Hag's arrival as manager. Bailly told when quizzed on the forward's acrominious departure: "Cristiano Ronaldo returned, the legend coming back. He was the best player in the world for me. Even when he returned, Cristiano contributed a lot to the club and a player like Cristiano deserves to feel important. It’s a shame he left in the circumstances he did.”
Getty ImagesWHAT BAILLY SAID ABOUT RONALDO AS AN OPPONENT
The defender also opened up on his awe at coming up against Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and others while playing for Villarreal. He added: "Everything went well there [at Villarreal]. I went back to Spain and my first away game was at Real Madrid against Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo. We drew 1-1. The next season, we played Liverpool in the semi-final of the Europa League. We won 1-0 at home but lost 3-0 away. I couldn’t play in the game at Anfield as I was injured. But it was all an incredible experience. I’d gone from being a reserve player to playing in a European semi-final in no time. I was learning all the time playing under Marcelino. I was playing against Xavi and Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo. It would have been impossible to see that path.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Unfortunately for Bailly, his career has taken a slow downward trajectory after joining United in 2016. Lack of playing time under Ten Hag saw him land a move to Besiktas, but his contract with the Turkish giants was terminated last week – less than four months after joining – over reportedly "poor performances". Ronaldo, meanwhile, has hardly looked back since joining Al-Nassr, being crowned 2023's top scorer with an astounding 54 goals to his name for club and country.
