Eric Cantona stunned the audience at the Champions League draw into silence with a bizarre speech as he accepted the UEFA President's Award for his charitable work and outstanding contribution to the game.
The Manchester United legend had the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo staring in bemusement, as he quoted William Shakespeare during the speech, while donning a red shirt and flat cap.
His speech preceded the full draw for the Champions League group stage for 2019/20, with Man City and Liverpool among the clubs to learn their fate for the coming European season.
But Cantona, not dressed in a suit as everyone else was, stole the show in truly bizarre fashion.
“As flies to wanton boys, we are for the gods,” he said.
”They kill us for their sport. Soon the science will not only be able to slow down the ageing of the cells – soon the science will fix the cells to the state. And so we will become eternal.
“Only accidents, crimes, wars will still kill us, but unfortunately crimes and wars will multiply. I love football. Thank you.”
The speech was quoting Shakespeare's play King Lear, with the original quote: "As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods, They kill us for their sport."
Cantona is of course, famous for his cryptic statements in the media. After the infamous Crystal Palace kung-fu kick incident in 1995, he gathered journalists for a press conference and said: “When seagulls follow the trawler it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea."
He caused a stir on social media, with fans and former footballers reacting with amusement and awe.
Cantona received his award for his outstanding work. He is a supporter of the Common Goal charity, which aims to get the football industry to pledge one per cent of its earnings to good causes.
