Manchester United Transfer News: Eric Cantona Kung Fu Kick Halted Inter Move

Former Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has revealed he tried to sign former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona during his 18-year tenure with the Italian giants, insisting the Frenchman’s kung fu kick at Selhurst Park put the mockers on any potential deal.

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During his time in charge of the Italian giants, Moratti lured some of world football’s biggest names to the San Siro, including Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o.

Cantona, who scored 85 goals in 185 appearances for the Red Devils, would have arguably been the biggest coup of the lot.

“The first idea that I had after buying the club was taking both Cantona and Mancini,” he told the Corriere della Sera (h/t Mark Doyle of Goal.com). “Then Cantona ended that in my presence in London with that Kung Fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan and he decided to stay in Manchester.”

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Back in 2008, Moratti described missing out on Cantona as “my greatest missed opportunity,” per The Telegraph. “He felt obliged to stay in England and serve out his suspension.”

Here's a look at why the Frenchman is revered as a Premier League great:

During his time with United, Cantona grew into an Old Trafford legend.

In his four-and-a-half seasons with the Red Devils, he won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups, all with his collar flicked up and accompanied by a roguish panache. The United supporters still sing about him to this very day, and you suspect he will remain an immortal icon.

Legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had this to say about his former No. 7, per Bleacher Report UK:

The adulation comes in spite of his numerous faux pas, which include that outrageous flying kick and flurry of punches aimed at Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons, who had reportedly abused Cantona after he was sent off.

The United man was subsequently levied with a suspension by Manchester United and an eight-month ban from the Football Association.

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From a footballing perspective, Inter probably could have done with a player as brash as Cantona. The season after the Frenchman’s ban saw Roy Hodgson eventually at the helm of the Nerazzurri following a poor start, and they finished the Serie A campaign in a wholly underwhelming seventh position, despite signing Paul Ince from United ahead of that campaign.

The relationship between the stringent, straightforward Hodgson and the controversial Cantona would have certainly made for some entertaining viewing, as would the Frenchman lining up alongside mercurial talents such as Marco Branca, Maurizio Ganz and Roberto Carlos.

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Those of us who can remember “King Eric” and his thoroughly entertaining Premier League exploits during the 1990s will be glad he stuck around in Manchester. As Moratti said himself, per The Telegraph, "he was an amazing player."