Cantona: 'My offer to help Man Utd out of love for club was turned down by Ratcliffe'

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has launched a scathing critique of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, accusing the new minority owner of trying to "destroy everything" at the club and rejecting his offer to help with its revival.

Cantona, revered as one of United’s greatest ever players after his five-year spell in the 1990s, spoke out during an appearance at FC United of Manchester — a club formed by fans disillusioned with the Glazer family’s controversial 2005 takeover of United.

Speaking at the event, Cantona criticized Ratcliffe’s leadership and the direction taken since his INEOS group assumed control of football operations in February 2024.

Central to his concern is a proposal to build a new 100,000-seater stadium — something Cantona believes would rip the soul from the club.

“Since Ratcliffe arrived, this team of directors is trying to destroy everything,” Cantona said. “They don’t respect anyone — not even the stadium. The soul of Manchester United is not just in the players, but in everyone around the club. It’s like a big family.”

Cantona also condemned recent mass redundancies, which will bring the total number of job losses under Ratcliffe’s regime to around 450.

“It’s vital to respect these people as much as you do your manager or teammates,” he said. “Instead, they’ve pushed out people who are the heart of the club. Ratcliffe doesn’t even want Sir Alex Ferguson as an ambassador anymore — and he’s more than a legend.”

Drawing comparisons to other clubs, Cantona warned against moving away from Old Trafford: “Arsenal lost part of their soul when they left Highbury. Can you imagine Liverpool playing anywhere but Anfield? For me, United must always play at Old Trafford — it’s iconic.”

Cantona revealed he had offered to help Ratcliffe rebuild the club, despite being busy filming through October. “I said I could pause my work to help. Not for money, just out of love for the club. But they didn’t care.

"They’ve chosen a different strategy, and that’s their decision. I feel sad for the club, but I had to make the offer — out of respect for myself and what United stands for.”

Now a co-owner of FC United along with his children and brothers, Cantona expressed disillusionment with the current leadership at Old Trafford. “I still support United, but if I were choosing a club today, I don’t think I’d choose United.

"I just don’t feel connected to this new vision. Maybe we’re dreamers, and they’re all about business and strategy. But I hate that way of thinking — I hate these kinds of decisions.”