Sir Jim Ratcliffe's favourite player suggests what he wants from Manchester United

If you asked Sir Alex Ferguson to pick out just one player from his illustrious time at Manchester United, he'd still be able to give you an answer.

"When Eric Cantona came, it was like the messiah," the legendary manager said last year. "Players loved him. The young players loved him. His presence, his confidence, his stature. He transformed the confidence factor and we deservedly won the league."

Without the breathtaking brilliance of Cantona, there would have been no early dominance of the Premier League or subsequent Treble success. In a rich tapestry of world-class talent, he is still the pinnacle. George Best famously said he'd have given all the champagne he ever drunk to be playing alongside him in a big European match at Old Trafford.

TAKEOVER: Ten Hag decision and Old Trafford goodbye - Sir Jim Ratcliffe handed clear plan

INTERVIEW: I told Ten Hag I was leaving after watching him sign other midfielders

Sir Jim Ratcliffe does not arrive at United with the same biblical expectation, but he too dreams of being the man to save United from the mess they have found themselves in. It would be no surprise if he and Ferguson discussed the club's most iconic former player when they sat alongside one another at Old Trafford last weekend.

Ratcliffe was briefly introduced to journalists before kick-off against Tottenham on Sunday and named Cantona as his favourite ever player when quizzed on the matter. The company buying shares in the club is Trawlers Ltd, a nod to the Frenchman and his most famous quote.

These underarm answers always need to be taken with a pinch of salt and Cantona is an easy win amongst United fans, but the admiration of Cantona certainly highlights what Ratcliffe values the most in a player.

He was