Had it happened in this week of the Alexis Sanchez trading there would have been a particularly astounding result. It was the November day in 1992 when United paid Leeds United £1.2 million for Eric Cantona. And the cost, it just kept rising and rising this week to the point where that old Cantona deal became a relic - a shining one, no doubt, but still a relic. And then one day Leeds United called Manchester United to ask if Denis Irwin was available for transfer. However exemplary his motives, they would hardly be harmed by a brief reflection on the meaning of Eric Cantona.

Source: Irish Independent January 19, 2018 14:03 UTC