The legend of Manchester United, Eric Cantona, unleashed on Sir Jim Ratcliffe, saying that the chief of ineos “actively tries to destroy” the essence of the football club.
Cantona, a cult hero at Old Trafford during his five -year stay in the 1990s, also revealed that his offer to support the renewal of the club was rejected by the new owner of the minority.
Speaking at FC United in Manchester – a club created in 2005 by disappointed fans with the property of the Glazer family – Cantona developed its disappointment with the current management of United under Ratcliffe.
“Since Ratcliffe arrived, this team of directors has tried to destroy everything and they don’t respect anyone,” said Cantona. “They even want to change the stadium. The soul of the team and the club is not in the players. Everyone is like a big family.
“For me, Arsenal has lost their soul when they left Highbury and I’m sure many fans are missing Highbury. It’s like when you go to a house and feel special energy. Can you imagine Liverpool play in another stadium than Anfield? It is impossible. I don’t think United can play in another stadium than Old Trafford.”
Given that Ratcliffe’s investment was finalized in February 2024, its management brought a wave of structural changes to United, including plans to potentially replace the emblematic traffic by a new stadium of 100,000 seats.
In addition to infrastructure changes, Ratcliffe leadership also involved radical endowment reductions – around 450 redundancies in total.
https://x.com/utdreport/status/1910316083979989024
“I think it is very important to respect these people as you respect your manager and your teammates,” he added. “Since the arrival of Ratcliffe, it is the complete opposite. He no longer wants Sir Alex Ferguson as an ambassador. He is more than a legend and I think we have to find this soul.”
Cantona also revealed that he had personally reached his hand to offer his help during the club’s transition phase – an offer which, according to him, was ignored.
“Until the end of October this year, I will shoot films. But I said to them, “I can put it [aside] And focus and you help rebuild something. And they don’t care. Me too, because I work.
“I don’t ask for anything. But I feel sad to see United in this kind of situation. So, for me and respect for me, 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 like 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 this kind of decisions. They have another strategy, another project. Do you feel close to this project? I don’t think.
“For me, it is very important to respect these people as you respect your manager and your teammates … But I think we may be dreamers and they look more like an economy and a strategy. I hate this kind of thing. I hate this kind of decision.”
