Eric Cantona fires scathing Manchester United message after Sir Alex Ferguson decision

Manchester United great Eric Cantona has slammed Sir Jim Ratcliffe's decision to ask Sir Alex Ferguson to step down from his role as the club's ambassador at the end of the season.

The legendary manager has held the post since retiring from the dugout more than a decade ago. The call from Ineos chief Ratcliffe is understood to be amicable between the pair but a big one, nonetheless.

Ratcliffe has overseen some severe cost-cutting measures since he and Ineos over at Old Trafford in February. The drastic changes have been controversial, in some circles, as 250 staff were made redundant, while further changes could be made moving forward.

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Ferguson became the club's ambassador in 2013, while he earned a reported £2.165million during those first eight months as a United ambassador. The Scot attended a meeting at Old Trafford last Monday and he's understood to have been informed of the decision in person.

Time-consuming responsibilities have also been cited behind the end of Ferguson's 12-year ambassador's stint. The decision, however, has not gone down universally well with fans and United hero Cantona, who lifted four Premier League titles and two FA Cups under Ferguson between 1992 and 1997.

Taking to Instagram, the iconic Cantona wrote: "Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies. Such a lack of respect. It's totally scandalous. Sir Alex Ferguson will be my boss forever! And I throw them all in a big bag of s***!"

Rio Ferdinand also made his feelings clear by taking to X (formerly Twitter). "If Sir Alex can be taken out, then NO ONE IS SAFE