Cantona says Ratcliffe’s immigration views would have kept him from United

Eric Cantona said he would not have joined Manchester United in 1992 if Jim Ratcliffe had been a co-owner, criticizing the businessman’s comments about immigration in the United Kingdom. Cantona made the remarks in a recorded conversation with United fan Pete Boyle, responding to Ratcliffe’s recent BBC interview. Ratcliffe said the UK was “on the slide” and argued that politicians were not tough enough to address immigration and benefits. Cantona said he could not understand how someone with those views could be one of the club’s owners. He also argued that football’s leading players have come from waves of immigration in countries including France and England. Cantona cited French players with immigrant backgrounds, including Raymond Kopa, whose parents were Polish immigrants, and referred to his own Spanish family background. He said his mother came from Spanish refugees. Cantona has also made a documentary about immigration and French football, according to his remarks. The former France forward joined United from Leeds United in 1992 and helped the club win four Premier League titles in five seasons. Ratcliffe has previously described Cantona as his favorite United player.