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Eric Bailly chose to sign for Manchester United because of the opportunity to work with Jose Mourinho and turned down Manchester City in order to do it. Bailly, 22, joined United in a £30 million deal this summer after impressing for Villarreal in La Liga and the Europa League. The Ivory Coast international was asked to move to City by countryman Yaya Toure but Didier Drogba's experience of working with Mourinho had him sold on linking up with the former Chelsea manager at Old Trafford. "I signed for United because I like Mourinho, as simple as that," he told The Sun. "I wanted to play for someone who works very hard. I didn't speak to Pep Guardiola but the 'second' manager called me and Mourinho called me as well. "He said come and play for me. I prefer Mourinho, in part because of Didier Drogba, who Mourinho worked with. "I have played with Didier in the Ivory Coast, he is a friend and he told me, 'Jose did this for me, Jose did that for me.' "Yaya also called me and said come to City. But once Jose spoke to me and Didier gave me advice, I knew straight away I wanted to play for him." Ahead of his first season with United the defender has big plans to follow in the footsteps of a club legend. "When you are at Manchester United, Eric Cantona is a legend and somebody people always talk about," Bailly added. "So I just want to try my best and see if I can match the level of the man, even though I know that will be very difficult. "Every day I try to improve with my teammates and be ready for the matches to come."
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