sport news How could do with some Eric Cantona magic now trends now

sport news How could do with some Eric Cantona magic now trends now
sport news How Manchester United could do with some Eric Cantona magic now trends now

sport news How Manchester United could do with some Eric Cantona magic now trends now

Eric Cantona’s competitive Manchester United debut as a substitute in the derby at Old Trafford, 30 years ago, was circumspect and understated.

Just 10 words of introduction from the stadium announcer, 45 minutes of football and such a modest contribution that he left the field as a man of mystery. 

Cantona had such a broad perspective on the world, and football’s sometimes insignificant place within it, that he only ever seemed to be passing through.

Eric Cantona became an instant hero at Manchester United after debuting 30 years ago

Eric Cantona became an instant hero at Manchester United after debuting 30 years ago

He took up residence in a hotel near Worsley Brow on Manchester’s eastern fringe, having moved from Leeds United in the autumn of 1992, and reflected in an interview with a French journalist at the time that it suited him well.

‘I do not need to give three months’ notice at a hotel, or to organise moving out, with all the time it takes,’ he said. ‘A credit card is all you need to say goodbye.’

It was hard to know how to view those words. Was this Cantona the adventurer, too egotistical to fully commit? Or Cantona the free spirit?

The outspoken figure established himself as one of the Premier League's biggest figures

The outspoken figure established himself as one of the Premier League's biggest figures

An answer materialised this week in an interview with The Athletic in which the 56-year-old reflected on how, after his brief first retirement from football in 1991, a two-month period of enforced isolation led him to reframe his expectations about football people and fans.

‘At that time I found something,’ Cantona said. ‘I realised I expected too much from people. I thought I loved these kinds of people and I wanted them to love me. 

'Then I realised, you become a prisoner of this idea. So I tried to find the solution. In French, it is to say “Je suis de passage” (‘I am in transit’). It helped me a lot as a man and a player. I started to not care.’

Cantona (left) has featured in numerous exhibition matches since retiring from football

Cantona (left) has featured in numerous exhibition matches since retiring from football

The 56-year-old joined Manchester United from arch rivals Leeds in the Autumn of 1992

The 56-year-old joined Manchester United from arch rivals Leeds in the Autumn of 1992

His team-mates from that time would say he cared a very great deal, though Sir Alex Ferguson clearly intuited the same restive, independent soul and the need to give the man his space.

Cantona reframed Ferguson’s notion of how a footballer might exist and conduct himself and the extraordinary note the manager

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