Man Utd legend Eric Cantona is not afraid to say what he thinks - and he's been very critical of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's regime.
Ratcliffe watches United draw with Spurs
Ratcliffe watches United draw with Spurs
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When Sir Jim Ratcliffe celebrated his 70th birthday, his colleagues put together a video containing messages from Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham and Eric Cantona.
Cantona is Ratcliffe's favourite player. The British billionaire even named the company that acquired up to 29 per cent of United, Trawlers Limited, as a reference to his famous speech.
Just a few months after Ineos' investment was signed off, Cantona was asked about the reference. He said he inspires a lot of people and described Ratcliffe as "a legend in his business".
However, Ratcliffe might need to reconsider his favourite player after some bruising quotes from Cantona over the last year. Ratcliffe has thick skin, but Cantona has not held back when discussing the Ineos regime, and his comments might cut through due to the esteem in which Ratcliffe holds him.
Speaking at the 'Eric The King Cantona' evening, 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. 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.”
Earlier this year, he said: "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. They [Ineos] have another strategy, another project. Do you feel close to this project? I don't think so.
"The soul of the team and the club is not in the players - all the people around is like a big family. I remember a dressing room with players and Sir Alex Ferguson. All these people you don't know helped us to feel at home and be in a family. It's very important to respect these people like you respect your manager and teammates.
"Since Ratcliffe arrived, it's the complete opposite. He doesn't want Sir Alex Ferguson as an ambassador any more. 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."
Cantona has been critical of Ratcliffe.(Image: 2024 Marc Piasecki)
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Cantona and Ratcliffe are complete opposites, and it would be interesting to learn whether the latter can detach Cantona the man from Cantona the player after his latest round of criticism.
Ratcliffe wants to build a new stadium and Cantona has pleaded to stay at Old Trafford. Ratcliffe believes United's redundancies were necessary and Cantona feels the club's identity has been destroyed.
Ratcliffe will not have to react and change his favourite player if he can separate the two. He may be able to disagree with Cantona's opinions, but still be able to look back on his playing career with fondness.
On the other hand, Ratcliffe's opinion could change due to Cantona's criticism. Imagine finding out that your favourite player appears to actively dislike you? Not many fans are faced with that.
The birthday video Ratcliffe received for his 70th might have been deleted, and he may feel slightly embarrassed that he publicly gushed over Cantona when he was looking to invest in United.
“Eric transformed the club… he had presence. He was the figurehead of Manchester United," Ratcliffe said during an interview. The naming of 'Trawlers Limited' was the ultimate tribute to the Frenchman.
Ratcliffe has copped plenty of flak from United fans and was confronted after United's visit to Craven Cottage at the beginning of the year due to the decision to increase ticket prices.
United made the mid-season decision to raise matchday ticket prices to £66 per game in the Premier League. "66 quid, you're taking the p***. You're worse than the Glazers, sort it out," a fan said to him.
Cantona bemoaned corporate power in football during his recent tour. “I went to Old Trafford last season for the game against Manchester City, and I thought it was quiet," he said.
"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.
“We have to be closer to the real things of football, to the working people. Football is a working-class game – it’s important we don’t lose that. If I lived in England, I would prefer to be a fan of a club in the third or fourth division.
"I don’t find the energy that we had in the past. It’s not the fault of the fans, it’s the fault of the people who are in charge of the clubs – the economic system.”
Ratcliffe won't buy a ticket to attend an evening with Cantona any time soon.