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Eric Cantona: Ratcliffe and Ineos have destroyed Man Utd
Martin Macdonald
- Updated: 15 Nov 2025 10:01 GMT
- 7 min read
Nieuws
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona believes the club's current upper-office management of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos are destroying the club.
In February of 2024, Ratcliffe and Ineos bought a 27.7% stake in the Red Devils and were subsequently given control of club operations by majority shareholders, the Glazer family.
There was initial optimism among Man Utd fans, many of whom became disillusioned with the club under the full ownership of the Glazers.
However, results on the pitch didn't improve which led to the sacking of Erik ten Hag, while there were large redundancies among club staff which proved to be an extremely unpopular decision.
Cantona says the club, quite simply, isn't the same as when Sir Alex Ferguson was the manager and that Ineos turned down his consultancy offer.
"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," he said at his stage show, An Evening with Eric the King 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. Sir Alex Ferguson created a style of beautiful attacking football, which the new owners should have used. Instead, they destroyed it."
The Frenchman, who is a co-owner of FC United of Manchester, which was formed in protest against the Glazers' takeover in 2005, slammed Ratcliffe earlier this year.
"Since Ratcliffe arrived, this team of directors try to destroy everything, and they don't respect anybody," he thundered in response to the billionaire's mass layoffs as a cost-cutting measure and plans to leave Old Trafford.
"I feel sad to see United in this kind of situation. 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."
Last month, rumours circulated about a potential Man Utd takeover from figures in the United Arab Emirates and Cantona was mentioned as potentially being the face of that consortium, but things have gone quiet on that front recently.
Cantona slams day trip Man Utd fans
The United icon also criticised the current atmosphere at Old Trafford for Man Utd games as he reckons it's filled to the brim with day trip fans from around the world.
"The atmosphere in the stadium is different, unfortunately," he confessed.
"I went to Old Trafford last season for the game against Manchester City, and I thought it was quiet. 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."
Ultimately, Cantona believes that the focus on money has been to the detriment of the club as an institution.
"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," he said earlier this year.
"Because I don’t feel close to these kinds of decisions. They have another strategy, another project. Do you feel close to this project? I don’t think so.
"For me, it is very important to respect these people like you [the fans], respect your manager and your team-mates. I think since Ratcliffe arrived it’s the complete opposite and, this team of directors, they try to destroy everything and they don’t respect anybody. They even want to change the stadium."
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