'Cursed' ex-Man Utd star joins third side after leaving club just two years ago

Real Oviedo have provided former Manchester United star Eric Bailly with a new home after his contract with Villarreal ended earlier in the summer to once again leave him searching for a club

Former Manchester United star Eric Bailly has signed for La Liga side Real Oviedo. The move marks the third different club that the Ivory Coast international has joined since making his exit from Old Trafford in 2023.

Bailly, 31, has signed a two-year deal with the newly promoted club, who earned their place in the top flight with the help of inspirational ex-Arsenal favourite Santi Cazorla. Bailly joins after his new side suffered an opening-day defeat to his former employers Villarreal.

The central defender departed the Yellow Submarine when his deal with the club expired at the end of last season, after enjoying an 18-month return to the Estadi de la Ceramica. The 49-cap international featured just 12 times in La Liga for Villarreal last term and found himself among the substitutes more often than not ahead of his exit.

The La Liga side offered him a home after seeing his move to Besiktas from Manchester United prove to be a failure. Bailly was released a year early from his contract at United to make the switch to Turkey on a free transfer.

After eight appearances and a hamstring issue, Bailly found himself cast aside before the January transfer window even arrived and was banished after clashing with his own team-mate, Tayfur Bingol, during Besiktas' league clash at Antalyaspor. The centre-half was one of five players left out of first team plans before seeing his contract ripped up.

Bailly revealed a curse had been placed upon him by an agent who claimed he was owed money following the player's move to Besiktas. The agent is said to have sent a message to Bailly during Besiktas’s 3-1 defeat to Fenerbahce, a game in which Bailly was penalised for handball and conceded a penalty.

A message from the agent read: “I am happy to see what my curse is doing to you. You are not a man. You are a big Mickey Mouse.”

But things at least now appear to be looking up for Bailly. The veteran has quickly felt welcomed by his new club and hopes to make a fast impact.

“It hasn’t been difficult to come here," he said in his presentation. "The most important thing for me is that they show interest in you, and I liked the project from the start. I’m really looking forward to getting started.

"I feel good. In a short time, there’s an important match, and I hope to be ready."

"I’m very excited about the team and its history," he added. "They achieved something very important with the promotion, and I’m here to give my all."