Ratcliffe set for meeting with 'magic' Cantona

Thursday 22 February 2024 12:29

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe knows all about the kind of players that raise the roof at Old Trafford.

From Bobby Charlton to George Best, they are players synonymous with the 'magic' of playing for United.

None, however, have been more impactful and transformative, in our new co-owner's mind, than Eric Cantona.

"There's a certain type of player... when he gets the ball, you get excited because you're not sure what he's going to do with it – it might be a bit of magic," he said. 

"Eric [Cantona] was one of those."

Sir Jim Ratcliffe | The Interview Video

Sir Jim Ratcliffe | The Interview

FULL INTERVIEW | Watch all 28 minutes of our unmissable Sir Jim Ratcliffe Q&A, exploring his plans on and off the pitch…

"He was so transformative for that Manchester United team and Alex Ferguson. 

"They hadn't won the league for 25 or 26 years before Eric arrived. Then Eric arrived and he was the catalyst that really galvanised the team for the next 25 years." 

Sir Jim revealed he is actually set to meet with Le Roi soon - although he did not confirm where, when and what would be discussed.

"We are due to have lunch, so it'll be really interesting.

"He knows [INEOS Sport CEO] Jean-Claude [Blanc] well, so I'm really looking forward to that. He's quite a character – I think it's important that a part of Manchester United is it's always had a glamorous aspect to it. Eric was a bit of glamour.

"He was a bit of a maverick, I suppose. David Beckham was, Bobby Charlton [too]. There's always been a glamour associated with the club, which is one of the reasons the brand is so well-known around the world."

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