Eric Cantona was one of the greatest footballers of the 1990s but nowadays, it is hard to describe the French man without using the word mad somewhere mid-sentence.
Cantona leaned fully into his surreal side this evening in a bizarre appearance for Showmax Premier League, who broadcast the league throughout the African continent.
Cantona was billed as the main pundit for their coverage of Manchester United v Fulham alongside host Julia Stuart and former Manchester United and Champions League winner Owen Hargreaves. Their efforts were in vain, as the Frenchman failed to engage with pretty much every question.
Eric cantona o 😂😂.. Sky sport This skit is something else sha.
The English premier league is back 😎
Manchester United please don’t break my heart tonight 🥲 #Mufc pic.twitter.com/1a2eiP8Chl— Cjay 👑 (@themanCJAY) August 16, 2024
Cantona eventually tired of the conversation and stormed off the set. As a parting shot, he offered a rambling monologue about a revolution.
Stuart says, "What can you and the millions of Manchester United fans worldwide expect? What will unfold as the season progresses on their television sets?"
Cantona sarcastically chuckles and says, "television," a few times before standing, removing his microphone, jacket, and tie, and proceeding to deliver a concluding monologue to the camera.
"How many people in this world don't even own a television? What of [sic] them? To be truly beautiful, the game should be everywhere. It cannot be stuck on the wall - or just in the bar - no, it must fly. Then, my friends, no one should believe the Premier League is out of their league. It must be for everyone."
He concludes, "And this marks the beginning; the revolution has begun."
Just in case you missed it!!
Eric Cantona!!! 👑
The EPL is back!!!! pic.twitter.com/vIl0V36B4r— Wondy || THE BLESSED ONE (@__wondyAE) August 16, 2024
As he walks off-camera, Julia Stuart asks Owen Hargreaves, "What must I do?" before the broadcast cuts to a test pattern leaving fans wondering what have they just watched in perhaps the a hard to match opening day of the season TV drama for the Premier League.
Explaining Eric Cantona's bizarre punditry
Is it up there with his when he mentions seagulls after karting kicking a Crystal Place fan to the chest, where he was suspended for the rest of the season? Perhaps it could take something more ridicule to match this utterly bizarre cameo, but knowing Cantona don’t back against him doing so.
And perhaps the maddest thing was the whole thing was an ad for Showmax.
Showmax hijacked the entire @premierleague feed with Eric Cantona to promote its mobile offering across Africa - the most affordable package on the planet. The most phenomenal stunt you’ll see in 2024. 😮 https://t.co/l3OUd82FB2
— Mike Sharman (@mikesharman) August 16, 2024
Some viewers were seemed a bit confused and believed Cantona had simply lost the plot. Anyone who stumbled onto those clips on social media will likely feel similar. However it was clear by the end Cantona had a product to sell.
You can watch the whole segment here.
