Three decades ago Manchester United made a surprise signing that, as it turned out, was to alter the club’s history.
It would genuinely shape the formative years of what was then a young, newly formed competition called the Premier League. It would endorse a great manager’s reputation for bold, instinctive, inspired judgements.
The player acquired was Eric Cantona, then aged 26 but with several clubs already on his CV and a chequered disciplinary record. He was recruited from Leeds United, his seventh employer, where he had played an important role in delivering the 1992 league title.
Cantona’s relationship with Howard Wilkinson, the then Leeds manager, had turned difficult and when a conversation about another proposed transfer between executives of Leeds and Manchester United touched, almost at random, on to the subject of Cantona’s availability, United’s manager Alex Ferguson was taken aback to learn the Frenchman might be for sale. He urged an immediate bid.
The rest is history. In the next five years Cantona would be an emblematic figurehead for a series of domestic triumphs that established United as the dominant force in English football after decades in which they had been only part of a chasing pack.
The seemingly haphazard path that took Cantona from erratic, restless talent to enduring hero of Old Trafford is unlike most modern transfers in elite football because the business has grown so much since, the sums are much higher – Cantona cost United around £1 million – and the buffer zones between clubs negotiating deals is filled with more intermediaries.
Players’ career trajectories are more streamlined, too, and so are the rules around how frequently a player can change employers. Between December 1991 and the same month 12 months later, Cantona had been at Nimes in France, at Leeds, and at Manchester United and also announced his retirement – he quickly rescinded that – from football entirely after being obliged to serve a two-month ban in his native France for throwing the ball at a referee.
Three decades on from the Cantona coup, United are homing in on another unusual but potentially brilliant signing: that of Christian Eriksen, a footballer who is in most respects the opposite of the whimsical, mercurial maverick that ‘King Eric’ was, but whose circumstances and whose situation puts him apart from most players of his star status.
Like Cantona in the early 1990s, Eriksen is available for a relatively cut-price deal because of a chain of out-of-the-ordinary events. Like Cantona, who wanted to leave France because of a ban, Eriksen was obliged to leave a country where he was playing – in Italy for Inter Milan – for very specific reasons.
But much more than Cantona 30 years ago, Eriksen has lived through a truly extraordinary 12 months. Last July, the Dane was thankful simply to be alive. He had collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s opening European Championship match against Finland with a serious heart problem. Back then, and for many weeks afterwards, a comeback to playing at the highest, or indeed any professional level, seemed most unlikely.
Inter, where after a subdued start he had contributed vitally to the 2020-21 Serie A title, soon had to acknowledge any comeback could not be with them. Eriksen was fitted with a defibrillator, a precaution against a repeat of the cardiac arrest. In Italy, a footballer with a defibrillator is not permitted to play at the senior professional levels.
Manchester United season ratings 2021/22
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MANCHESTER UNITED SEASON RATINGS: David de Gea - 8. A candidate for the club’s player of the year, the Spaniard is United’s undisputed number one and the dips in form which allowed Dean Henderson to challenge him have gone. Spoke out far more this season, as he should have done given his status as a senior member. He’s now 11th in United’s all-time appearance chart with 487. He’d prefer a team trophy to any such plaudits, but his side conceded far too many goals, but that was down to the players in front of him rather than the Madrileno who played far more minutes than any of his teammates. EPA -
Dean Henderson - 5. A threat to De Gea’s position during lockdown, Henderson did at least push the Spaniard into getting his act together again. Contracting Covid before the season commenced set him back and he could never get a chance and started only three games all season. As he showed in the previous season, he’s a very good goalkeeper who deserves to be playing regularly. He’s also likely to attract a bigger fee than any other United player this summer. EPA -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 3. A complete regression for the right-back who has got worse in each of his three seasons at Old Trafford . Played every single minute of the first 13 league games of the season, when the low point was leaving his man to try and retrieve the ball before Liverpool’s opener. Tackles well but doesn’t offer enough going forward, his crossing is poor and and so is positioning at the other end. His last three appearances saw United lose all three, scoring no goals and conceding nine. We understand he wants to stay at Old Trafford and is contracted until 2024, but his new boss’ view of him will be the most important one. EPA -
Phil Jones - 4. Thankfully, he’s back after a horrendous run of injuries. Thankfully, showed he’s still capable of playing Premier League football. The support he received playing against Wolves at Old Trafford contrasted sharply with the previous abuse he suffered. Jones is not United’s future and would be better off playing regularly elsewhere. AP -
Harry Maguire - 4. His worst season as a United player and in professional football. United’s captain had been a key squad member until an injury in May 2020. Like many who played in Euro 2020, he struggled at the start of the season and was rushed back for Leicester away, but unlike others he kept his place. Unfairly became a figure of mockery when even his good performances were overlooked. Defends well and in the eight games he missed United only won once, but with his confidence hit he made too many errors and looked less secure the further forward he went. He’s determined to stay captain and get back to where he was. Plenty of United fans will back him to do so, as will his new manager. PA -
Raphael Varane - 5. Such high hopes when he signed from Real Madrid, but such an underwhelming season followed for him. Varane is a world-class defender and he showed that against Atletico. With a proper pre-season behind him, something he didn’t have last term, he hopes to prove it to United fans. And even when he missed far too many games, he still won a higher percentage of duels than any defender apart from Virgil van Dijk. Awful in the 0-4 defeat at Brighton as the home side cut through United time and again. EPA -
Victor Lindelof - 4. Should be in the prime of his career, but he is another with a poor season to his name. His performance at right back away to Atletico was painful to watch. Did well in the opening two games when Varane’s signing was considered imminent, then lost his place to the Frenchman but won it back since Varane was too often injured. Catching Covid didn’t help, nor three managers and the ever-shifting defensive selections. Known as the Ice Man at Benfica, he melted in key moments this season, though it wasn’t just his fault because there was too much space around him to be exploited. He’s well rated at Carrington, let’s see what his new boss thinks of him. AFP -
Eric Bailly - 3. Central defender who doesn’t play enough games and has never played enough games. Capable of the sublime and the ridiculous in the same match. Excellent at Chelsea away, but that’s nowhere near sufficient – yet he still had his contract renewed in 2021. EPA -
Luke Shaw - 4. Another defender who regressed – they all did. Shaw, 26, had his Euro 2020 hangover but started in 11 of the 12 opening league games. Tangling with Maguire before Liverpool went 2-0 up after 13 minutes was a low point. His side was 4-0 down at half time for the first time in 31 years. United’s defence conceded 57 goals – four more than relegated Burnley. AP -
Alex Telles - 5. The Brazilian, 29, got the opportunities after Solskjaer departed and didn’t start in a game United lost until Man City away in March, but in the biggest game at home to Atletico, he turned into his man and lost possession before the ball came in for Atletico’s opener from his side, as it had for their disallowed goal. Suspect when defending, capable of the best crosses at the club and a decent assists too but doesn’t look like a top class full-back. Getty -
Diogo Dalot - 6. Got the chances he’d hoped for after a successful season on loan at Milan. Best game was his first league start of the season at home to Arsenal when he pushed right up and got right back. Before that, he’d been blitzed by Villarreal’s Danjuma at Old Trafford. Steadied himself defensively but still too erratic for his position and didn’t find consistency. It wasn’t easy in a failing, flailing, team. EPA -
Fred - 7. One of the few who had a better than mediocre season. Moved around, broke up play, energetic. Replicated a famous move by Real Madrid player Redondo at Old Trafford in a bright United start against Atletico and scored four times – important goals too - in the league. Reuters -
Scott McTominay - 5. All heart, passion and commitment which too few of those around him showed, but lacks the technical level and often found himself up against better players: Koke, De Bruyne, Rodri, Keita, Henderson et al. Getty -
Jadon Sancho - 5. Overall, a disappointing first season after his vast transfer from Dortmund. One of the few players who improved under Rangnick, at least for a few months after Christmas, and his super curling shot against his former club Manchester City for the equaliser was about the only bright moment in another derby hammering. Five goals was a poor return, too. AFP -
Nemanja Matic - 5. United’s best player in the worst game of the season, a 4-0 defeat at Brighton. Which would be of zero consolation to him. Played a lot towards the end of the season and brought balance to the side, but was seldom good for the full 90. Left the club of his own accord at the end of the season. Good luck. EPA -
Bruno Fernandes - 5. Often frustrated, too often argumentative – and less productive, despite being United’s second top scorer with 10 (and 13 assists). Took United’s 100th corner of the season in January – they’d resulted in zero goals. He signed a huge new contract, not that he’s not been playing well enough to convince fans he deserved it. Could and should be central to United’s rebuild, but needs to reach far better levels. PA -
Paul Pogba - 4. Another disappointment and one 95 per cent of fans in one poll would be happy to see go. Started the season well and made seven of his nine assists in the opening four games, then faded like his team and lost his place in the side before being out injured with hamstring issues. He started only 16 league games. Brilliant for France, he scored a pitiful one goal. At 29, he should be at his peak. United fans don’t see that and, out of contract, he looks set to leave on a free transfer for the second time. Getty -
Anthony Elanga - 7. Immediately picked out by Rangnick, enjoyed his first league start of the season and he started it well on the left, stretching Villa. Enjoyed a promising start among fans and his equaliser at Atletico was one of the few season highs (not scoring in the cup against Middlesbrough was his low), but by Brighton away he was a spent force who’d faded. Getty -
Mason Greenwood - 6. Pass. Reuters -
Edinson Cavani - 3. A terrible second season compared to his first, where he finished strongly. The Uruguayan, 35, was in the starting XI for just 18 per cent of United’s games and scored only two goals. Whether it was his groin, calf, tendon, quarantine or an unspecified ‘knock’, he was unfit to play far too often. That annoyed his teammates. Can you blame them? PA -
Marcus Rashford - 3. His worst season in red as he started only a third of United’s games – but the previous season was hardly convincing either and his stock has plummeted among fans. Five goals and two assists was a poor return. Recovering from a shoulder injury hadn’t helped and nor did the players around him, but he has to get his form back or his future will be away from Old Trafford. Intends to concentrate on his football next season. Good. AFP -
Cristiano Ronaldo - 8. By a distance the top scorer with 24 goals across all competitions, including 18 in the league, the 37-year-old still has impressive stats. He smashed through the 800-goal mark for clubs and country in December and provided most of the best moments of United’s season, scoring in the first five Champions League group games, but not against Atletico in the last 16 when it mattered. Home hat-tricks against Spurs and Norwich lifted the Old Trafford gloom. PA -
Juan Mata - 5. The Spaniard was desperate to play more football. Didn’t play a minute in any league game until April but got more minutes towards the end of the season and was effective exploiting pockets of space in his first start against Brentford, less so against Brighton in the following game. Out of contract. Hard to see him staying and he was the last player on the pitch as he waved goodbye to fans at Selhurst Park. EPA -
Jesse Lingard - 3. Awful season for him on and off the pitch. Felt he was promised more minutes which didn’t arrive. Wanted to go on loan in January to replicate his loan at West Ham in 201 – and then he didn’t. Out of contract and not leaving quietly. Fans not sad to see him go. PA
But the rules in English football are different, so Brentford invited Eriksen to launch his comeback with them, on a short-term basis, as of January. There he demonstrated that his vision, his playmaking excellence and his eye for goal had not diminished through his period of crisis and his steadily growing hope of recovering his career.
In the past six months United saw enough of the Eriksen they remembered from his best days at Tottenham Hotspur and at Ajax to imagine a partnership that could suit club and player. Erik ten Hag, the new United manager, knows Eriksen from the time that the midfielder, recuperating last year, spent at the training ground of the Ajax that Ten Hag was then coaching.
If the United deal goes through, the Dutch manager will be closely associated with making it happen. If it would be over-ambitious to imagine the Dane could become his Cantona, he can at least hope that this is a signing that can raise spirits at United, a club who over recent years have lost much of their old knack of shrewd, inspired and unexpected interventions in the transfer market.
