Eric Cantona keen to house and feed refugee family for two years

Eric Cantona has taken up an acting career ever since his retirement from football

Former Manchester United legend Cantona has pledged to feed and provide shelter for refugee family for at least two years, according to The Guardian. Eric Cantona spoke on a French radio station that his grandparents fleeing the war had inspired him to provide aid to the refugees fleeing to Europe.

Cantona is a living legend both for France and Manchester United – where he spent the golden years of his footballing career. Known for being a prolific scorer, the 49-year-old was in no doubt an exceptional player. But his temper and antics on the field were not well appreciated by many fans and players.

Why Cantona wants to help refugees

Despite all his flaws and wrongdoings in the past, he is now well-motivated and encouraged to help refugees as his maternal grandparents were Republican refugees who fled the Franco regime in Spain, crossing the Pyrenees mountain range on foot to reach France. The former footballer has now made a consideration to provide a small house, garden and food.

“My maternal grandparents were Spanish Republicans who fled Franco by crossing the Pyrenees on foot,” Cantona told France Inter radio on Tuesday. “That being our story, it certainly played a role.”

He has also said that he was currently organising the process with authorities in Marseille, southern France.

“If you house someone who does not have the right to work, then they need to eat too. I’m organising that with authorities in Marseille.”

Cantona was partly responsible for Manchester United’s period of dominance in English football. Having established himself as one of the stars of the Premier League during the 1990s, the Frenchman has gone on to forge an acting career ever since his retirement.

He is currently performing stage play Victor at a Parisian theatre and is one of the stars in the upcoming French film Les Rois du monde, directed by Laurent Laffargue.

Former Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed in his new book that Cantona was one of only four players he has coached who he considered to be ‘world class’. The other three included Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.