Cantona FINALLY explains his 'When the seagulls follow the trawler...' comment

'When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.'

It's a phrase that has left football pundits the world over baffled for nearly three decades trying to decode the hidden sentiment within.

But Eric Cantona has now revealed the cryptic comment, made after being ordered to explain his infamous 'kung-fu kick' on a foul-mouthed Crystal Palace fan in 1995, was nothing more than just the first thing that entered his head.

The former Manchester United striker, who since hanging up his boots has broken new artistic ground as an actor, photographer and singer, said there was no deep philosophical meaning behind the comment.

Instead, it was just a spur of the moment, nonsensical utterance designed to palm off journalists at a press conference he did not want to attend.

And his silence on the matter for the past 29 years was a form of 'revenge' to frustrate the media he felt went too far in vilifying him for standing up to abuse.

Speaking to French chat show C dans l'air this week, Cantona said: 'I didn't want to but (Manchester United) said it's important you have to speak to the press.

'So I said, OK I will speak to the press, in the sense that they want me to speak – I'll say any old thing.

'You know, (the press) destroyed me. But in a way I have had my revenge. They were all trying to find a meaning and they all asked me to explain and I said nothing.'

Cantona delivered the kick that made headlines worldwide during an away game for United against Crystal Palace in January 1995.

Having been sent off for a challenge on Palace defender Richard Shaw, Cantona was trundling off the field towards the dressing rooms in the corner of Selhurst Park when he heard Palace fan Matthew Simmons