Former Manchester United defender among 5 players banned by Turkish giants

Bodoe/Glimt's Faris Moumbagna #29 fights for the ball with Besiktas' Ivorian defender #30 Eric Bailly during the Europa Conference League Group D football match between Besiktas and Bodoe/Glimt at the Besiktas Park stadium in Istanbul on November 9, 2023. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly was among five players to be banned from the first-team squad at Besiktas following a dramatic statement from the club on Monday.

Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar, Rachid Ghazzel, Jean Onana and Valentin Rosier have also been dropped by Besiktas for “poor performances and incompatibilities with the team”, according to the club statement, as per BBC Sport.

This comes after a threatening agent started pestering Bailly by claiming a curse had been put on him, with that news breaking in the past 24 hours after the recent Besiktas defeat. We can now say the story was planted at a convenient time (or can we?).

It’s disappointing news for Bailly, who only joined the Turkish side in September after ending a seven-year stint at United. He also enjoyed a loan to Marseille last season but sadly injuries have followed him to Turkey.

Only time will tell if Besiktas look to move these players, including Bailly, on in January. It goes without saying that we have enough defenders who are injury prone and don’t meet the required standard to play for United.

Where next for Bailly if he does leave Besiktas?

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