Collymore compares Bailly to Vincent Kompany.
Manchester United’s Eric Bailly in action with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku
Football pundit Stan Collymore has praised Eric Bailly’s early displays for Manchester United after his summer move from Villarreal.
Bailly has made a strong impact early on this campaign, living up to his £30 million price tag.
Collymore has compared him to Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany, regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.
Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany waves to fans as he walks off to be substituted after sustaining an injury
In his column for Boyle Sports, he said: “Eric Bailly is a little impetuous at the moment, sometimes a little too eager to get in front of his forward but I haven’t enjoyed a central defender’s display this much since Vinny Kompany’s entrance into the league a few years back.”
Collymore also praised Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but questioned Wayne Rooney’s role in the team, with the England captain a bit-part player.
If Rooney’s long term future is not at United, Bailly should eventually have the target of one day becoming club captain in his sights.
Manchester United’s Eric Bailly celebrates with the trophy after winning the FA Community Shield
His early form displays the qualities of a leader willing to demonstrate by example, but if he is to really emulate Kompany he will have to become more vocal and develop further by showing how tough he is in big games.
Despite the City and United rivalry, Kompany is not a bad player to try and emulate, although Red Devils fans will prefer Bailly models himself on ex-Red Devils Jaap Stam and Nemanja Vidic.
Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United
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