Eric Cantona Slams Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Vision for Manchester United: "The Soul Is Being Lost"

Manchester United icon Eric Cantona has delivered a scathing critique of the club’s current direction under minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, accusing him of tearing apart the very identity that made United special.

Speaking at an event hosted by FC United—the breakaway club formed in protest against the Glazers’ takeover in 2005—Cantona said he no longer feels a personal connection to Manchester United due to what he perceives as soulless, corporate decision-making.

“If I had to choose a club to support today, I don’t think I would choose United,” Cantona admitted. “I love United, but the decisions being made now make it hard to feel close to the club.”

Since INEOS, Ratcliffe’s chemical conglomerate, acquired a 27.7% stake in United in early 2024, the billionaire has assumed control of football operations. But his tenure has been marked by controversy, including sweeping job cuts, a 5% hike in season ticket prices, and ambitious plans to replace Old Trafford with a 100,000-seat stadium on the same site.

To Cantona, these moves symbolize a break from tradition and community. “The soul of a club isn’t just in the players—it’s in the people around it, the ones who make it feel like a family,” he said. “Now, it’s being run like a business, not a club.”

Cantona, a central figure during United’s dominant run in the 1990s under Sir Alex Ferguson, also criticized the decision to terminate Ferguson’s ambassadorial role.

“He’s more than a legend,” Cantona emphasized. “Removing him from that role shows a deep lack of respect. It’s the complete opposite of the culture we built at the club.”

Comparing United’s proposed stadium move to Arsenal’s departure from Highbury in 2006, Cantona warned that relocating could strip United of its emotional anchor. “Can you imagine Liverpool leaving Anfield? It’s unthinkable. Old Trafford is the heart of United.”

The Frenchman, who now works in film, even offered to help Ratcliffe and his leadership team rebuild the club, but said the offer was met with indifference. In response, Cantona joined FC United as a member, along with his children and siblings.

“I told them I could set aside my film work to help rebuild something special,” he said. “But they didn’t care—and now, neither do I.”

Despite his clear disappointment, Cantona's words reflect a deep love for the club's heritage and a hope that its soul might still be recovered. “They have a strategy, they have a project—but it's not one I recognize. Not one I want to be part of.”

_{Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @ericcantona, Unsplash / Colin + Meg}