Eric Bailly, Manchester United star, has recounted his grass-to-grace story, giving an emotional glimpse into his steady rise from being a street child selling cigarette to survive in Abidjan to a superstar in Manchester. The 25-year-old star, who was born in Côte d’Ivoire from poor parents in Bingerville, humbly recounted how his less-privileged background almost shattered his football career. The Ivorian moved from Africa to Spain after he was spotted by Espanyol's Emilio Montagut following an impressive performance during a youth tournament in Burkina Faso organized by Spanish company Promoesport.

🗣 "In about five years I had gone from selling cigarettes in the streets of Abidjan to playing for the biggest club in the world."https://t.co/1d1R3manys

— Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) December 27, 2019

He sealed a Liga switch to Villareal after a year with the Catalan side, making 35 appearances. The 25-year-old defender moved to Premier League top-side Manchester United in 2016 and has then risen to a popular figure among fans both in his home country and abroad.  Speaking with The Flight in a bare-it-all-interview, the Ivorian international recounted how his life changed within the span of five years.  "In about five years I had gone from selling cigarettes in the streets of Abidjan to playing for the biggest club in the world," Bailly said. 

"You all know about my “fake” life.

Now let me tell you about my real one."@ericbailly24 on his injury, the Ivory Coast and the flight that changed his life.https://t.co/MkzQ8lpFUW — Players' Tribune Global (@TPT_Global) December 26, 2019

"When I was nine I was going to school and playing football in the streets like most boys. I was also helping my mother, Appoline, with various things around the house. "I was always like this. What little strength I had, I tried to put at the service of others. The two of us were living with my older brother, Thierry, in a small village called Bingerville," the 25-year-old further posited.