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Man Utd: Pundit accuses Ed Woodward of lying about transfers
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has revealed he was turned down by Ed Woodward when he attempted to return to Old Trafford as ‘president of football’. The Frenchman was a huge hit at the club during his playing days, helping the Red Devils win four Premier League titles. He’s regarded as one of their best ever players, having been a vital asset when Sir Alex Ferguson ruled the roost.
Man Utd news: Eric Cantona has revealed he asked Ed Woodward to return to Old Trafford (Image: GETTY)
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“Ed Woodward is great at marketing but not great at football. United should have a chairman and then they should have a president of marketing and then a president of football, who is in charge of all the decisions in football. So I proposed to them that I should be president of football.
“I met him a few times. But they did not accept it!”
When it was pointed out that United now have a football director in the form of John Murtough, Cantona double down on his claims.
“Yes, but it is not a president of football,” he said.
“Since Ferguson retired in 2013, the club doubled their revenue but didn’t win anything.
“So imagine if you succeed in football and also have great people in marketing, then instead of doubling the revenue, then you would treble it.
“But they do not understand that. The club spends a lot of money. But you have to spend it well.
“But they did not want me to be the president of the club! They did not want me!
“And the fans have to know that I went and travelled to Manchester to give them the opportunity to succeed in the next decades. And they did not want it.”
Cantona was when asked whether he’d be the best person for such a role at United, who have failed to win the Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
With a smile on his face, he said: “I am smiling because I love what I do now in my life.
“I never earned so much money, even in football. I do many things I love, only things for which I have passion.
“But first I met Sir Alex Ferguson, to say this to him and to know what he thought about it. And he thought it was a good idea. He introduced me to Mr Woodward.
“I felt guilty not trying to help this club to do better. I said to myself, ‘For five years I will put everything on hold and concentrate 100 per cent on that’.
Man Utd news: Eric Cantona believes his old club need more than just John Murtough (Image: GETTY)
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“Most of the things I say are great things but if I think something that the people from the club do not like, then I am free to say it. As an ambassador, you lose your freedom.”
And Cantona has also suggested that, if United ever renamed Old Trafford due to a lucrative sponsorship deal, he’d turn his back on football for good.
“But can you imagine Old Trafford becomes a new stadium called by a brand?” he said.
“If one day they do that, I am sorry but I am not a fan of United anymore. And I quit football forever!
“But please, don’t call this stadium Nestle, or Amazon, please. Old Trafford is Old Trafford.”
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