Former Manchester United footballer Eric Cantona has told a French radio station that his grandparents’ experience fleeing war has inspired him to house and feed a refugee family for “at least” two years.

“I’m organising that with authorities in Marseille,” Cantona told France Inter radio on Tuesday, explaining he intended to provide a small house, garden and food.

Rabbis urge David Cameron to speed up refugee scheme Read more

“If you house someone who does not have the right to work, then they need to eat too,” he said.

“My maternal grandparents were Spanish Republicans who fled Franco by crossing the Pyrenees on foot. That being our story, it certainly played a role.”

The man credited with sparking Manchester United’s period of dominance in English football has carved out a successful second career as an actor since retiring. He is currently performing in the stage play Victor at a Parisian theatre, and also stars in the film Les Rois du monde (The Kings of the World) directed by Laurent Laffargue, which is released in France on Wednesday.