Manchester United signing Eric Bailly: 5 things to know about the Villarreal star

Eric Bailly could be set to join Manchester United.

Eric Bailly has many of the potential qualities that new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has often favoured in defenders.

The versatile Villarreal star is 6-foot-1, strong and assertive -- which will be useful in the Premier League -- and this season he helped the Spanish club qualify for the Champions League, as they finished fourth, while also reaching the Europa League semifinals.

At the age of 22 and two months, the Ivory Coast defender, who played most often as a centre-back for Villarreal, has plenty of time to develop his attributes further. Here we take a look at five things that you need to know about Bailly as ManUnited confirm that a deal is in place.

DELAYED START

Having been born in Bingerville, the same place as Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony, Bailly's talents were spotted during a youth tournament in Burkina Faso. Although he moved into Espanyol's youth system at the age of 17 and eight months in December 2011, it was 10 months before he received his work permit. It was then another 10 months until he made his first-team debut in October 2014. That first taste of professional football, at the age of 20 years and six months, was a La Liga match against Real Sociedad, which Espanyol won 2-0.

TITLE-WINNING PEDIGREE

Even in the early stages of his career, after just a handful of league appearances, Bailly was being seen as an exciting prospect for the