Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has launched a new attack on Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the current hierarchy, claiming they have ruined Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy.
Eric Cantona has renewed his criticism of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, claiming the Manchester United chief executive “seems uninterested” in the Frenchman’s offer to help rebuild the club and that the current government has “destroyed” Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy.
Cantona revealed earlier this year that he had offered to help Ratcliffe in his bid to rebuild United. However, this offer was not accepted by the Ineos president and he completed the purchase of a minority stake in the club in 2024.
The former striker previously attacked Ratcliffe over redundancies at Old Trafford, even accusing the club of “selling their souls”. Mr. Cantona then revealed more about why he offered to help Mr. Ratcliffe and the Glazer family, and the former’s reaction.
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“I have a lot of other passions and projects, but I thought I’d put them aside for a couple of years so I can give something to this club that has given me everything,” Cantona said at a show on his one-man tour, The Telegraph reported.
“But he didn’t seem interested. I don’t feel guilty anymore because I did what I had to do. I did my best. Sir Alex Ferguson created a beautiful style of attacking football and the new owners should have adopted it. Instead they destroyed it.”
Ferguson had established United as one of the top teams in the country before stepping down as manager in 2015. He then moved into an ambassadorial role for the club, before it emerged that Ratcliffe and others were moving to terminate the Scotland international’s multi-million pound contract.
Speaking in the spring, Mr. Cantona never denied his views on such a move and questioned Mr. Ratcliffe’s plans for a new 100,000-seat stadium.
“I remember the dressing room with the players and Sir Alex Ferguson,” he said. “All these people you don’t know have helped us feel at home and feel like family. It’s very important to respect these people the same way you respect your coach and your teammates.
“Since Ratcliffe came, it’s been exactly the opposite. He doesn’t want Sir Alex Ferguson as an ambassador anymore. He’s more than a legend and I think we have to find this soul again. This manager’s team is trying to destroy everything. They don’t respect anyone. They even want to change the stadium. They want to destroy everything. They even want to change the stadium. They want to destroy everything.
“The stadium is iconic. For me, Arsenal lost their soul when they left Highbury and I think a lot of fans miss Highbury. It’s like walking into a house and feeling a special energy. Can you imagine Liverpool playing in any other stadium than Anfield? That’s impossible. I don’t think United could play in any other stadium than Old Trafford.”
“But I think maybe we’re dreamers and those are things like economics and strategy. I hate this kind of thing. I hate these kinds of decisions.”
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