Cantona accuses Ratcliffe of destroying Manchester United's identity

Eric Cantona has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, accusing him and his leadership team of "destroying everything" that made the club special.

Speaking at an event held by FC United – the non-league club formed by United supporters in 2005 as a protest against the Glazer family's takeover – Cantona expressed deep disappointment with the direction the club has taken under Ratcliffe's management.

Ratcliffe, who acquired a minority stake in Manchester United in February 2024 and took charge of football operations, has made sweeping changes in the space of a year. He sacked manager Erik ten Hag and appointed Ruben Amorim, but the team remains a shadow of its former self, sitting 13th in the Premier League. He has also implemented significant cost-cutting measures, resulting in around 450 job losses, while controversially raising ticket prices. One of his most ambitious and divisive plans involves building a new 100,000-seat stadium to replace Old Trafford.

Cantona, who became a club icon after joining United in 1992 and playing a key role in their resurgence under Sir Alex Ferguson, did not hold back.

"Since Ratcliffe arrived, this team of directors has tried to destroy everything," Cantona told reporters. "They don't respect anybody. They even want to change the stadium. The soul of the team is not just in the players—it's in the people around them. It's like a big family. You have to respect them the same way you respect your manager and team-mates."

He also condemned the club's decision to distance itself from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, saying: "Ratcliffe doesn't even want Sir Alex as an ambassador anymore. He's more than a legend. I think we need to find that soul again."

Cantona, now 58 and pursuing a career in acting, recently became a co-owner of FC United. He argued that leaving Old Trafford—the club's home since 1910—would be a grave error.

"For me, Arsenal lost their soul when they left Highbury. I'm sure many fans still miss it. I don't think United can play in another stadium and retain who they are," he said.

The former France international revealed that he offered to help Ratcliffe rebuild the club but was dismissed.

"I told them, 'Until the end of October I'm shooting films, but I can pause that and help you rebuild something.' They didn't care. They have another strategy, another project," he added.

Cantona concluded with a message that will resonate with many disillusioned fans: "I support United because I truly love United. But if I were choosing a club today, I don't think I'd choose this version of United. I feel no connection to these kinds of decisions. Maybe we are dreamers, and the owners are about economy and strategy. I hate this kind of thing."