'A city that has stayed with me' - Man United legend Eric Cantona announces Manchester return with a twist

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona will be heading back to the city where he made his name but will be taking to the stage rather than a football pitch.

Cantona joined the Old Trafford club from Leeds United in November 1992 for £1m. It proved to be a masterstroke as the charismatic Frenchman helped propel United to Premier League success and their first English top tier title in some 25 years.

Cantona scored 82 goals in 185 games at United across five seasons. In that time, he won four Premier League titles and two FA Cup winners' medals in a trophy-laden spell, before hanging up his boots in 1997.

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Since then, Cantona has turned his hand to being an actor, working with a host of companies and being a player and manager of the French beach football team. He has also been, briefly, the director of football at American side New York Cosmos.

Now though, the United legend will be making a return to the city where he truly made his name, but it will not be on a football pitch. Instead, he will be taking to the stage and flexing his vocal chords.

He will be making his live singing debut in a UK and Ireland live tour. It has been dubbed Cantona Sings Eric On Stage and he will be beginning the tour in Manchester later this year.

Speaking about the tour, Cantona said: “Next year, I'll be playing with a band, but for now, I'm starting with a modest piano to play alongside me in intimate venues.

“I'll be starting in Manchester because it's a city that has stayed with me so much for the football, of course, but also the general atmosphere.”

He is set to perform three live shows in Manchester, London and Dublin in October, whilst he