Eric Bailly has claimed Manchester United have favoured picking English players in the starting XI during his time at the club.
The Ivory Coast centre-back joined Marseille on loan this summer and while he could return to Old Trafford at the end of this season, he has aimed a remarkable broadside at the club over a selection policy that he believes prioritised England internationals.
Bailly was frustrated at a lack of opportunities under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick last season, starting just three Premier League games, while out-of-form captain Harry Maguire started 28 times in the league.
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He became an even more peripheral figure under Rangnick than he had been under Solskjaer and he was understood to be frustrated that £80million signing Maguire was being picked ahead of him.
He's now joined Marseille on loan for the season, a deal will that become permanent for £5.9million if he plays a certain number of games and the club qualifies for next season's Champions League.
Bailly is back on English shores on Tuesday, with Marseille opening their account in this season's Champions League against Tottenham, and ahead of the game he has voiced his displeasure at the selection policy of his parent club.
“The club should avoid favouring English players and give everyone a chance. [The club should] encourage competition in the dressing room, not just look out for some. I’ve always had the feeling that the national player was prioritised," Bailly told The Times.
“That doesn’t happen at Chelsea or other big Premier League clubs. Some people take it for granted that they are going to start, and that weakens the team. Luckily [Erik] Ten Hag has a lot of character and I hope he can change that dynamic.”
Bailly signed a new contract at Old Trafford in April 2021, but less than a month later was publicly demanding to play more games or he would look to leave.
He featured under Erik ten Hag in pre-season this summer, but with Lisandro Martinez arriving from Ajax for £56million and Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof also at the club, he felt he had to leave to play more regularly.
“I met Erik Ten Hag in the dressing room at the end of last season when he went to sign his contract,” Bailly said. “I was packing my things because my intention was to leave, but he told me he wanted me to stay because he was going to give minutes to everyone.
"I agreed to do the summer tour with United, and he kept his word, but I don’t want to play every now and then. I want to do it every week and feel important. I want to get my confidence back.”
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