Paul Gascoigne reveals Rangers transfer role of Eric Cantona as Man Utd icon was key to stunning Ibrox switch

Paul Gascoigne has revealed how Manchester United legend Eric Cantona inadvertently played a role in his move to Rangers.

The former England star joined the Light Blues almost 30 years ago in a stunning £4.3 million switch from Italian giants Lazio. It was a major coup for Walter Smith at the time to attract such a huge name in world football, with the Geordie having been one of the stars of the World Cup in Italy just five years earlier.

Gascoigne had suffered due to injuries but still had a host of big clubs chasing his signature - including Sir Alex Ferguson at Man Utd. Gazza was the latest guest on The Rest Is Football podcast, hosted by his former England team-mates Gary Linker and Alan Shearer as well as ex Manchester City star Micah Richards. And Gascoigne told how Ferguson wanted to sign him in the summer of 1995 but ONLY if Cantona decided to leave after the controversial Frenchman was unsure of his future in English football following his infamous kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan which saw him banned for nine months.

Gazza, who had decided his time in Italy was over and just needed to find his next destination, explained: “When I was leaving Lazio I did have the chance (to join Manchester United),” said Gascoigne. I remember ringing up Bryan Robson and saying ‘look I’m leaving Lazio are Man United interested?’

“Fergie was right next to him so I spoke to him and he said ‘look, I’ll tell you what I’ll do, I’ve got Cantona and if he leaves, I’m going to sign you, but if he stays then because the two of you play in the same position I’m just going to keep Cantona’. Obviously Cantona stayed and I made a great move to Rangers.

“Lazio it had come to the latter years and I was miserable and sad and I had an injury