Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has criticised co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe over his comments on immigration, saying he would not have joined the club had the INEOS chief been in charge when he moved to Old Trafford in 1992.
Ratcliffe, who owns a minority stake in Manchester United through INEOS, has faced criticism after making remarks about immigration and benefits during a BBC interview.
The comments also prompted Manchester United’s Muslim supporters’ group to call for his resignation, describing them as “completely unacceptable”.
Cantona, who moved to United from Leeds United for £1.2m in 1992, said Ratcliffe’s views would have influenced his decision to join the club.
Speaking to United fan Pete Boyle on TikTok, Cantona said: “No. Of course not. You know what I think about all of this, with this kind of politics.
“And I cannot understand that someone like this can say something like this when he’s one of the owners of the club.”
The Frenchman then pointed to the role immigration has played in the history of football and highlighted his own family background.
Cantona added: “Football is a very popular sport.
“Football is made – all the greatest players come from different waves of immigration. Everywhere, in France, in England, everywhere.
“In France for instance, the greatest players in France, they all come from different waves of immigration.
“I made a documentary on that, French Football: An Immigrant History. Raymond Kopa, in the fifties, was the son of Polish immigrants who came to France, worked in France, and worked hard in France.
“And then the Italians, Italians like Platini.
“And then Spanish, like me, my mother came from Spanish refugees.
“I cannot accept this kind of thing.”
Ratcliffe has previously described Britain as being “colonised by immigrants”, comments that also drew criticism.
He later apologised for his “choice of language”.
Cantona has also previously criticised changes introduced under Ratcliffe’s ownership, including job cuts at Old Trafford.
The former United forward said: “Since Ratcliffe arrived this team of directors try to destroy everything and they don’t respect anybody.
“They even want to change the stadium.
“The soul of the team and the club is not in the players.
“All the people around is like a big family.”
The latest comments add to the public disagreement between the United icon and the club’s current ownership.
Manchester United has previously reaffirmed its “inclusive and welcoming” values following Ratcliffe’s immigration remarks.
