Manchester United icon Eric Cantona has again laid into the club’s owners in scathing fashion.
The much-loved Frenchman has gradually fallen out of love with the team he won four Premier League titles with, largely due to the people running the club.
Cantona has continued his critique of Ratcliffe, saying his services were refused
3
Cantona has continued his critique of Ratcliffe, saying his services were refusedCredit: getty
The hidden clause that could force Jim Ratcliffe out of Man United and put Red Devils 'back to square one'
A long time critic of the Glazers, Cantona has recently turned his ire on Jim Ratcliffe and isn’t letting up.
Ratcliffe was put in control of footballing matters in February 2024 upon purchasing a 27 per cent stake in the club and his cost-cutting measures drew criticism from Cantona and many others.
The famous No.7 has now revealed that he even offered his services to the Monaco-based billionaire, but didn’t get the reply he hoped for.
Discussing United during An Evening with Eric The King Cantona, he said: “I have many other passions and projects, but I thought that for two or three years I could maybe put those to the side and try to give something to this club, which has given everything to me.
read more man united news
“But [Ratcliffe] didn’t seem interested. I did what I had to do, so I don’t feel guilty anymore. I tried my best.
“Sir Alex Ferguson created a style of beautiful attacking football, which the new owners should have used. Instead, they destroyed it.”
Cantona's rocky Man United relationship
Cantona was famously signed by Ferguson from Leeds in 1992 and is widely regarded as the missing piece of the puzzle for one of football’s great dynasties.
He’d help the Red Devils win their first league title since the 60s in 2023, and played his part in three more of the 13 Ferguson won during his era of dominance.
The Scot stepped down in 2013, and remained part of the club until February 2025 when he was taken off the payroll by Ratcliffe and Co.
Responding at the time, Cantona wrote on Instagram: "Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies.
Cantona was furious with the way the club treated his iconic coach
3
Cantona was furious with the way the club treated his iconic coach
"Such a lack of respect. It's totally scandalous. Sir Alex Ferguson will be my boss forever!
"And I throw them all in a big bag of s***!"
He later would add that he no longer felt ‘close’ to the club due to their cold decision-making.
“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,” he commented.
“I don’t feel close to these kinds of decisions. They have another strategy, another project. Do I feel close to this project? I don’t think so.
“For me, it is very important to respect these people like you [the fans], respect your manager and your team-mates.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Manchester Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
3
Ratcliffe won't be seeing Cantona at Old Trafford any time soonCredit: Getty
“I think since Ratcliffe arrived it’s the complete opposite and, this team of directors, they try to destroy everything and they don’t respect anybody. They even want to change the stadium.”
He added: “The atmosphere in the stadium is different, unfortunately.
Read More on talkSPORT
“I went to Old Trafford last season for the game against Manchester City, and I thought it was quiet.
“United fans prefer to go to away matches, to be with the real fans, than to be surrounded by people who come from different parts of the world just to go to the merchandise store.”