Club legend says his offer to come help with restoring the club’s footballing fortunes was turned down by Ineos
Eric Cantona says Sir Jim Ratcliffe has “destroyed” Manchester United’s identity. The club legend also revealed that his offer to come work at the club and help with the rebuild was turned down.
Ratcliffe is United’s minority owner after completing a 27.7% purchase of the club in January 2024. He and his Ineos team are also in charge of football operations under an agreement with the Glazer family.
The club has struggled with poor performances on the pitch for over a decade and it is Ratcliffe’s remit to restore its footballing fortunes. Cantona, one of the greatest players ever to play for the club, said he had approached them to offer his input during the transition but it was rejected.
“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,” said Cantona.
“But [Ratcliffe] didn’t seem interested. I did what I had to do, so I don’t feel guilty anymore. I tried my best.”
Under Ratcliffe the club appointed Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP to implement an identity on the pitch, after years of criticism that the team lacked any discernible pattern under Erik ten Hag.
Amorim introduced his favoured 3-4-3 system to the club in November last year but it has been the subject of much controversy. Cantona said it was a shame the club had abandoned the identity that defined the Sir Alex Ferguson era in which he and many other legends of the game thrived.
“Sir Alex Ferguson created a style of beautiful attacking football, which the new owners should have used; instead, they destroyed it,” said Cantona.
The former United No 7 also criticised the atmosphere in stadiums.
“I went to Old Trafford last season for the game against Manchester City and I thought it was quiet,” said Cantona.
“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.”
