Eric Cantona has launched a blistering attack on Manchester United’s owners, accusing them of ‘trying to destroy everything’ and selling the club’s soul.
The United legend, who also criticised the decision to knock down Old Trafford and drop Sir Alex Ferguson as a club ambassador, claimed that his offer to return to the club and help the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been snubbed.
Cantona was back at Old Trafford last weekend for the Manchester derby, and also visited breakaway club FC United where he bought shares for all his family to become co-owners of the non-league team and spoke to fans.
Hitting out at Ratcliffe’s decision to make up to 450 United staff redundant, the 58-year-old told the ‘Man Utd The Religion’ YouTube channel: ‘The soul of the team and the club is not in the players. All the people around are like a big family.
‘I remember a dressing-room with players and Sir Alex Ferguson, all these people you don‘t know who helped us to feel at home and be in a family.
‘I think it’s very important to respect these people like you respect your manager and team-mates.
French legend and former Man United forward Eric Cantona has taken aim at the club’s owners
The United fanbase have frequently protested against the Glazers, staging a sit-in on Sunday
Club legend Cantona was critical of the club’s new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in particular
‘Since Ratcliffe arrived, it’s the complete opposite. He doesn’t want Sir Alex Ferguson as an ambassador anymore. He is more than a legend and I think we have to find this soul again.
‘This team of directors, they try to destroy everything. They don’t respect anybody. They even want to change the stadium. The stadium is iconic.
‘For me, Arsenal lost their soul when they left Highbury, and I’m sure a lot of fans miss Highbury.
‘It’s like when you go in a house and feel a special energy. Can you imagine Liverpool playing in another stadium than Anfield? It’s impossible. I don’t think United can play in another stadium than Old Trafford.
‘But I think maybe we are dreamers and they are more like an economy and a strategy. I hate this kind of thing. I hate this kind of decision.
‘I support United because I really love United. But now if I was a fan and I had to choose a club, I don’t think I would choose United because I don’t feel close to these kind of decisions. Do you feel close to this project? I don’t think so.’
Ratcliffe has also come under fire over rising ticket prices and plans to relocate long-standing season-ticket holders from their seats in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand to make room for a lucrative new VIP dugout club. Hundreds of fans staged a sit-in protest after Sunday’s derby.
Cantona told Mail Sport last summer that he was in contact with Ineos over a potential role under Ratcliffe, who says the Frenchman is his favourite United player ever and called the holding company he used to invest £1.3billion in the club Trawlers Ltd in a nod to the 58-year-old’s famous seagulls quote.
Cantona spoke up in Sir Alex Ferguson’s defence after his ambassadorial contract was ripped up
The club have recently unveiled their plans to knockdown Old Trafford and build a new ground
The new ground is set to cost around £2billion and seat around 100,000 fans when completed
But after signing up his four children and two brothers to become shareholders in FC United, Cantona revealed that his offer to help has been rejected.
‘Until the end of October this year I will shoot movies,’ he added.
‘But I said to them I can put that (aside) and concentrate and help you to rebuild something. And they don’t care. Me too, because I work. I don’t ask anything. But I feel sad to see United in this kind of situation.
‘So, for me and the respect for myself, I had to do it and I did it, and they didn’t care and I don’t care. They decided something else. They have another strategy, another project.’
