Former Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has launched a scathing attack on the club’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, accusing him and his leadership team of destroying the club.
British billionaire Ratcliffe took over football operations at United in February 2024 after acquiring a minority stake. Since then, his tenure has been marked by controversy. He sacked manager Erik ten Hag and brought in Ruben Amorim Amorim, but the team continues to struggle, currently sitting 13th in the Premier League.
Ratcliffe, a lifelong United supporter, has also faced backlash for raising ticket prices and cutting costs, which led to around 450 staff losing their jobs. At the same time, he unveiled plans to build a new 100,000-capacity stadium, which has sparked further criticism.
Cantona, now a co-owner of FC United, spent five successful years at United under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning four Premier League titles and two FA Cups. He warned that moving away from Old Trafford would be a major mistake.
“This team of directors, they try to destroy everything. They don’t respect anybody. They even want to change the stadium. The stadium is iconic,” he said.
“For me, Arsenal lost their soul when they left Highbury and I’m sure a lot of fans miss Highbury. I don’t think United can play in another stadium than Old Trafford.”
