06 November 2023 , 19:27
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Besiktas interim coach Burak Yilmaz has explained he substituted off Eric Bailly at half-time in a league defeat due to the former Manchester United defender’s behaviour on the pitch.
The Ivorian defender was hauled off at half-time of his side’s Turkish Super Lig clash at Antalyaspor on Sunday. Cenk Tosun had given the Istanbul giants the lead just before the break but the home side roared back in the second half to secure a 3-2 victory.
Bailly, who joined Besiktas on a permanent basis from United in September, is undergoing a tough time in Turkey. The club trail Istanbul rivals Galatasaray by 12 points in the league while Senol Gunes, the coach who signed the defender, has left the club.
Yilmaz is now in temporary charge of Besiktas and decided to withdraw the 29-year-old at half-time, after the defender was captured on camera in a heated exchange with his team-mate Tayfur Bingol – with Bailly placing his hand on his teammate in what appeared to be a heated exchange.
Besiktas coach Yilmaz explained on t24 after the game: “There was a problem with Eric Bailly during the half-time. That's why I took him off. There is no injury situation. I took him out of the game due to an inappropriate move.”
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Bailly made 113 appearances over the course of six injury-hit campaigns with United and was Jose Mourinho's first signing as boss. The Ivorian centre-back moved to Old Trafford from Spanish club Villarreal for a fee in the region of £30million.
After a positive first season in which he helped the Red Devils win the Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League. injuries derailed Bailly's Old Trafford career. The Ivory Coast international found consistent minutes and form hard to come by thanks to a slew of issues which began in late 2017, including a serious ankle injury which kept him out for four months.
Have Your Say! Was Bailly’s time at Man United a failure ? Tell us what you think here.
Bailly joined Besiktas permanently this summer (ANP via Getty Images)Having failed to convince Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick after Mourinho was sacked midway through his third season, Bailly decided that 2022 was his time to leave. The eye-catching defender joined Marseille on a season-long loan deal, before leaving United permanently this summer.
In a wider reflection on his time in England, Bailly told the Times last season: "I was Mourinho's first signing and I also had good moments where titles were won. I played important games and in some, I was chosen as the best player. I think when I was given the opportunity I rose to the occasion. I just lacked consistency, because I think I deserved more minutes."