Eric Bailly, previously with Manchester United, is among five players Besiktas has removed from their first-team roster.
The 29-year-old, who hails from the Ivory Coast, secured his spot with the Turkish Super Lig club this September, following a loan spell at Marseille last season.
Joining him in this exclusion are Vincent Aboubakar, Rachid Ghezzal, Jean Onana, and Valentin Rosier.
Besiktas cited reasons of subpar performances and team dynamic issues for their decision. “We’re actively working on reshaping our team’s structure,” the club stated.
Bailly’s journey with Manchester United spanned from 2016 to 2023, but he’s had limited action at Besiktas, appearing only eight times.
The club hasn’t terminated the players’ contracts, but they are now training separately and won’t be part of the main squad for some time.
Currently under Riza Calimbay’s management, Besiktas is positioned fifth in the league, lagging 14 points behind leaders Fenerbahce and Galatasaray after playing 15 matches.
Their European aspirations took a hit too, as they were eliminated from the Europa Conference League, finishing last in their group with four losses in five games.
Hasan Arat, the club’s new president, emphasized to AFP the importance of reinforcing the team during the winter break. “Our foremost goal is to enhance our team’s capabilities,” he stated.
Bailly’s tenure at Old Trafford, which began with a £30m move from Villarreal in 2016, was marred by injuries and inconsistent form, limiting him to 113 games.
Aboubakar, the 31-year-old Cameroon captain, Onana, his 23-year-old compatriot, and Rosier, a 27-year-old French right-back, along with 31-year-old Algerian winger Ghezzal, have all been at Besiktas since 2020, except for Bailly and Onana who joined this year.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Eric Bailly Besiktas
Q: Why was Eric Bailly excluded from Besiktas’ first-team squad?
A: Eric Bailly and four other players were excluded due to “poor performance” and “incompatibilities within the team,” as cited by Besiktas.
Q: Has Eric Bailly’s contract been terminated?
A: No, the players’ contracts have not been canceled, but they have been removed from the first-team squad.
Q: How has Besiktas performed in the Turkish Super Lig?
A: Besiktas currently sits fifth in the Turkish Super Lig, trailing 14 points behind the top two teams, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
Q: What happened to Besiktas in the Europa Conference League?
A: Besiktas was eliminated from the Europa Conference League and finished at the bottom of their group with four losses in five matches.
Q: Who is the new president of Besiktas, and what are his plans?
A: Hasan Arat is the new president, and he emphasized the priority of building a better team during the winter break to strengthen Besiktas.
Q: How long did Eric Bailly play for Manchester United?
A: Eric Bailly spent seven seasons at Manchester United, joining in 2016 and departing in 2023.
Q: Are there other players besides Eric Bailly who were excluded from Besiktas’ squad?
A: Yes, Vincent Aboubakar, Rachid Ghezzal, Jean Onana, and Valentin Rosier were also excluded from the squad.
More about Eric Bailly Besiktas
- BBC Sport – Eric Bailly: Ex-Manchester United defender among five players excluded by Besiktas
- Besiktas Official Website
- Fenerbahce Official Website
- Galatasaray Official Website
- Europa Conference League Official Website
- Football Daily Podcast
1 comment
europa conference league, besiktas not doing well, bad luck for them ☹️