10 Players Relieved They Didn't Sign For Liverpool

3. Eric Cantona

''When seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.۪۪ - Eric Cantona, October 1995.

Behind the kung-fu kicks, popped collar and puffed-out chest lay the ultimate cult hero. It takes a special player to arrive from Elland Road and instantly make the Red Devil support forget his Leeds ties, through a series of virtuoso displays. Elegance, poise and nonchalance are just some of the superlatives that could be used to describe Cantona, who was truly one of the finest characters to grace the Premier League. The maverick could so easily have been flaunting his undeniable charisma at the bitter rivals in Merseyside, however. Former Liverpool boss Graeme Souness claimed that he was offered the mercurial Frenchman following a UEFA Cup victory over Auxerre 23 years ago, but refused due to the 24 year old being a €˜problem player€™.

''After the game, I was in my office and there was a French guy waiting to see me. It was Michel Platini. He said he had a player for me. A player who۪d had problems but would love to play for Liverpool. That player was Eric Cantona. At that time, we didn۪t need any more problems so that was the one that got away.۪۪ - Graeme Souness,

A year later, the Frenchman signed for a different abrasive Scotsman - the only difference was this man knew how to win. Four league titles, two FA Cups and three Charity Shields, Cantona€™s decision to sign for the Red Devils was well and truly vindicated, leaving their Merseyside rivals to rue what might have been.