Eric Cantona says he would not have signed for Manchester United with Jim Ratcliffe as owner

Eric Cantona has said he would never have signed for Manchester United if Jim Ratcliffe had owned the club during his playing days. The French legend was responding to the co-owner's recent remarks on immigration, in which he claimed the United Kingdom is in decline because nobody is tough enough to deal with the migration problem. The former striker, once named by Ratcliffe as his favourite player, attacked the businessman's political direction.

• Cantona denies he would have joined United with Ratcliffe in charge.
• The Frenchman points out that the greatest players come from different waves of immigration.
• Ratcliffe said 'nobody is tough enough' to handle immigration and benefits issues.
• The co-owner previously apologised for saying Britain had been colonised by immigrants.

Cantona responds to Ratcliffe in a fan-channel interview

Cantona's reaction came during an interview with Pete Boyle, a well-known Manchester United supporter who asked the Frenchman whether he would have signed for the club with Ratcliffe as owner. The answer was firm: no, of course not. The former forward explained that his views on this kind of politics are well known and that he cannot understand how someone who owns the club can make comments like these.

Cantona argued that football is an immensely popular sport and that the best players in history come from different waves of immigration, in France, in England and everywhere else. He used his own country as an example, pointing out that the greatest French footballers all come from immigrant backgrounds.

Cantona's Old Trafford legacy contrasts with Ratcliffe's controversy

Cantona joined Old Trafford from Leeds United in 1992 and helped the club win four Premier League titles in five seasons. He became one of the biggest icons in United's history, which explains why Ratcliffe has previously identified him as his favourite Red Devils player.

The Frenchman's emotional bond with the club has not stopped him from distancing himself from the views he perceives in the current hierarchy. Cantona has never hidden his social sensibility and has often used his popularity to take a stand in political and migration debates, making his latest comments a direct message to the Old Trafford boardroom.

What Jim Ratcliffe said about immigration and the UK's decline

Ratcliffe's comments were made during an interview with the BBC. The businessman said he could understand why wealthy people are leaving the United Kingdom and described the country as being on the slide. Asked about the issues politicians should focus on, he named immigration as clearly one of them, alongside high taxes.

Nobody is tough enough to deal with the immigration problem. Nobody is tough enough to deal with the benefits problem. But somebody needs to do it.

Ratcliffe also referred to Britain's imperial past and the two world wars to underline the country's historical greatness, while criticising politicians for a lack of decisive action on immigration and the welfare system.

The previous Ratcliffe controversy that already upset Cantona

This is not the first time the Manchester United owner has attracted criticism over his views on immigration. Earlier this year he said Britain had been colonised by immigrants, comments that sparked a wave of condemnation. Ratcliffe later issued a statement apologising if his remarks had offended some people.

Then prime minister Keir Starmer and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham were among those who criticised those comments. Cantona's stance, known for its defence of diversity and immigration, clashes directly with the British executive's position once again.

Frequently asked questions about Eric Cantona's comments against Ratcliffe