After a crucial phone call, Eric Cantona's move from Leeds to Manchester United went from "impossible" to "authorized" in hours.
In November 1992, the Frenchman made a contentious switch between the historic rivals, exchanging Elland Road for Old Trafford.
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After scoring 14 goals in 35 games for the Whites, the forward went on to score 82 for Manchester United, winning four Premier League titles and two FA Cups.
But it took a phone call from Leeds' managing director at the time, Bill Fotheby, to alert United to Cantona's presence.
The ex-chief said in his latest book King Eric - Portrait of the Artist Who Changed English Football [via Mirror]: "I rang United about Denis Irwin, who had been at Leeds as a young child."
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“United chairman Martin Edwards said there was no hope, but I begged him to talk to Alex [Ferguson] at the very least.
Normally, I would not have asked him to return my call.
He did it again this time, giving me a player I knew Howard [Wilkinson, then-Leeds manager] would not be involved in.
He then inquired about Eric.
I said 'no way,' and it was impossible.”
But it had all changed in a matter of hours, according to Fotheby, who said, "Howard was out house-hunting in Leeds."
I waited a couple of hours, then called Martin and said, 'I can't believe it, but Howard is ready to let the kid go.'"
This was due to Edwards receiving his information about Cantona from another source.
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“I was friends with Irving Scholar, the former Tottenham chairman who lived in Monaco,” he said.
Whenever we spoke, he would gush about this young man Cantona.
“He'd say to me, 'He's made for you, he's a player made for United.'"
His style of play is ideal for Manchester United.
I can make out his face in the red and white strip.'
After reading about Howard and Eric's falling out, I recalled how critical he'd been to Leeds' title win in 1992.
I am certain that if he had not gone there, we would have prevailed.
“Bill was almost too truthful for his own benefit.
I called Alex and informed him of Bill's inquiry about Irwin.
As I predicted, he said no.
'Would you take Cantona if I could get him?' I asked.
‘Too bloody right, I will!' said Alex.
“Then Bill called to inquire about Irwin.
I told him Alex wouldn't go for it, so we'd take Cantona off his hands as if we were doing him a favor!
Bill said, ‘We’re open to selling him, but we have one problem at our end. He’s very popular. The crowd loves him. We’ll get slaughtered. Howard will do it, but only if we do it very quickly.' I said that was no problem.”
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