Cantona says he would have snubbed United over Ratcliffe as club debt climbs to £577m

Eric Cantona has publicly distanced himself from Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, stating he would have refused to join the club had Ratcliffe been in charge during his playing days — a rebuke that coincides with the release of financial accounts showing the club’s debt has climbed to £577.6 million.

Cantona’s comments were prompted by remarks Ratcliffe made to the BBC during the international break, in which the 73-year-old INEOS chief said the UK was “on the slide” and called for politicians to take a harder line on immigration and welfare. When asked by United fan Peter Boyle whether he would sign for the club under Ratcliffe, Cantona was unequivocal: “No.”

“Of course not,” Cantona said. “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 rebuke carries a particular irony given that Ratcliffe’s holding company, Trawlers Ltd, was reportedly inspired by Cantona’s famous “seagulls follow the trawler” quote — a detail that underlines how sharply the two men’s public positions have diverged since Ratcliffe acquired his stake in United.

Cantona, 60, won four Premier League titles in five years under Sir Alex Ferguson before retiring in 1997 and remains one of the most revered figures in the club’s modern history.

The financial accounts released alongside the controversy paint a mixed picture of United’s off-field health. The club recorded record revenue of £677.6 million — a 1.7 per cent increase despite the absence of European football last season — driven in part by a £33.9 million rise in broadcasting income following a third-place Premier League finish in 2025, up from 15th the year before.

However, non-current borrowings have risen from £471.9 million to £577.6 million, and the club posted an overall deficit of £43 million, up from £33 million the previous year. An operating profit of £22.6 million was offset by the broader losses, while matchday income fell by £6.8 million due to the lack of European fixtures and early cup exits.

On the pitch, Michael Carrick’s side currently sit 12th in the Premier League, with the international break offering a pause — though little respite — from a difficult start to the campaign.