6. Eric Cantona 1992 – 97
It’s hard to believe that Cantona only cost the club a meagre £1.6m back in 1992, but without him there is a good possibility that they could not have been anywhere near the force that they were had he not played for them.
Stylish, skilful, egotistical and always philosophical, his time in a United shirt was everything but boring and he was often the spearhead of the club’s success. Retired too soon.