• 

• Sport
• Football
• Manchester United FC

Eric Cantona revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson was ready to give up on him at Manchester United, had it not been for the intervention of the famous Scot's late wife Cathy.

The striker spent five years at Old Trafford, scoring 82 goals and assisting 63 times. Cantona won four Premier League titles and a number of domestic cups under the great manager.

However, Sir Alex was almost ready to sell him due to his chaotic antics. During the premiere of his documentary at the Cannes Film Festival, Cantona explained: "This is the story of my life, of a man who was in search of himself and another who helps him find himself.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don't miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

"It was almost a challenge that Alex Ferguson took on. At one time, he wanted to let me go, but his wife convinced him to continue with me."

Cantona's most infamous moment at United came in 1995 when they played Crystal Palace away at Selhurst Park. The striker was sent off for fouling Richard Shaw and continued the physical brawl as he walked off.

Cantona was being escorted towards the tunnel when a Palace fan taunted him from the stands. The infuriated star launched himself over the barrier and delivered a flying kick into the chest of the supporter before using his fists to continue the brawl.

As a result, Cantona was stripped of the French national team captaincy, fined £20,000, sentenced to 120 hours of community service and also banned from playing for eight months by the FA.

Despite this his hot-headedness, Sir Alex managed to harness Cantona's brilliance with a little help from one of his former coaches. Guy Roux, who had managed the striker as a teenager at Auxerre, was a key factor in his development in England.

Cantona explained: "Guy Roux advised: 'You have to love him and, if you give him this love, he will give you his life in return.' When I arrived in England, there were no Frenchmen and very few foreigners. People looked at me with a bit of contempt.

"My relationship with Alex Ferguson might have been a film script. It could have been a story of love."