Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has unleashed on Sir Jim Ratcliffe, claiming the INEOS chief is actively “trying to destroy” the essence of the football club.
Cantona, a cult hero at Old Trafford during his five-year stint in the 1990s, also revealed that his offer to support the club’s revival was dismissed by the new minority owner.
Speaking at FC United of Manchester – a club created in 2005 by fans disillusioned with the Glazer family’s ownership – Cantona expanded on his disappointment with the current direction of United under Ratcliffe.
“Since Ratcliffe arrived this team of directors try to destroy everything and they don’t respect anybody,” Cantona said. “They even want to change the stadium. The soul of the team and the club is not in the players. All the people around is like a big family.
“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.”
Since Ratcliffe’s investment was finalised in February 2024, his leadership has brought a wave of structural changes at United, including plans to potentially replace the iconic Old Trafford with a new 100,000-seat stadium.
Alongside changes to infrastructure, Ratcliffe’s leadership has also involved sweeping staffing cuts – roughly 450 redundancies in total.
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“I think it’s very important to respect these people like you respect your manager and teammates,” he added. “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.”
Cantona also disclosed that he personally reached out to offer his assistance during the club’s transitional phase – an offer he says was disregarded.
“Until the end of October this year I will shoot movies. 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.
“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 have another strategy, another project. Do you feel close to this project? I don’t think so.
“For me, that is very important to respect these people like you respect your manager and your teammates … 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.”
