Eric Cantona leaves Champions League draw audience bemused with Shakespeare quote in speech

Cantona paused for a moment before slightly misquoting the Earl of Gloucester in King Lear as a bemused audience, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, watched on in silence

Eric Cantona quoted a Shakespeare play in a bizarre acceptance speech at the Uefa Champions League draw.

Cantona was handed the President’s Award, and paused for a moment before slightly misquoting the Earl of Gloucester in King Lear as a bemused audience, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, watched on in silence.

The former Manchester United forward began with the quote from the tragedy, which reflects on the meaning of life and the order of the universe, before swaying into his own musings and finishing with: “I love football.”

“As flies to wanton boys, we are for the gods,” Cantona began. ”They kill us for their sport. Soon the science will not only be able to slow down the ageing of the cells – soon the science will fix the cells to the state. And so we will become eternal.

“Only accidents, crimes, wars will still kill us, but unfortunately crimes and wars will multiply. I love football. Thank you.”

Cantona is well known for his more eccentric moments. In his most famous press conference during his time at Old Trafford, he mysteriously said: “When seagulls follow the trawler it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea,” before walking out.