Cantona condemns Glazer takeover bid

Eric Cantona was the toast of Manchester United fans once again last night when the iconic former striker urged the club to fight the proposed takeover of American multimillionaire Malcolm Glazer who is understood to be on the verge of tabling another formal bid.

Eric Cantona was the toast of Manchester United fans once again last night when the iconic former striker urged the club to fight the proposed takeover of American multimillionaire Malcolm Glazer who is understood to be on the verge of tabling another formal bid.

However, that was not before Cantona, 38, had shocked his audience on the club's subscription channel MUTV by using an obscene phrase live at 5.30pm during a show that had encouraged young fans to phone in and put questions to the French striker, who retired in 1997.

Cantona was making a point about his intolerance of disrespect when he uttered the obscenity. He said: "Any time I had a problem it is because people don't respect me. I have to feel I am important. If I feel I am important, I don't answer people, even if they insult me.

"They can say 'fuck your mother' and I would say nothing because I am an example. I respect people and they have to respect me."

While sources at United have indicated they will cut that part of the interview from repeats on MUTV - of which they own a third - the club's supporters will be delighted at the call from Cantona to oppose a Glazer takeover.

There have been reports that the American investor, who owns 28.14 per cent of United, has found a new bank to fund his proposed takeover and has shown the plc board a new financial strategy that would involve taking on less debt than he had originally planned.

Cantona used the example of his own sour exit from Old Trafford, which involved a disagreement with the way in the club had marketed his image, to warn the fans to be suspicious of those seeking to profit from United. He said: "I don't think a takeover would be a good thing, not at all.

"If Manchester United were not a club where you can earn so much money do you think he would come? I don't think so. He can stay and buy Coca-Cola. That would be best.

"I had a problem with merchandising. At the time, business became more important than football. I can't accept seeing myself everywhere and not control those things."