Playalikes: Number 3: Dimitar Berbatov and Eric Cantona

Number three in our series: Dimitar Berbatov and Eric Cantona.

Sir Alex Ferguson himself noted the similarities between the current and erstwhile Man Utd strikers – both hugely talented, both temperamental and mercurial, both at once hugely influential yet seemingly uninterested.

Sir Alex specifically identified the knack both had/have for scoring crucial goals – Cantona did on many occasions (perhaps most famously his fantastic FA cup final volley against Liverpool), and Berbatov is starting to; witness the solitary goal in last night’s win against Boro that kept United in touch with the leaders.

Both stand in excess of six foot; Cantona the bigger, but Berbatov nonetheless a physical presence, and perhaps the better in the air of the two (though Cantona was also an excellent header of the ball). But both belied their size with a superb first touch and the ability to do magical things with a football. Berbatov beating James Collins on the byeline will be one of the enduring memories of this season, and Cantona was equally skilful.

Not only in playing style, but also in personality, do these two geniuses evoke each other. Both exude arrogance on and off the pitch, marching around with a haughty insouciance, surrounded by a certain aura. Enigmatic and hugely charismatic, they appear a cut above the likes of Wayne Rooney even on a rain soaked mudbath in Wigan on a Monday night. Footballing aristocrats, if you will.

We will never forget Cantona’s remarkable assault on Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmonds – one of the most astounding things ever seen on a football pitch (or off it, depending on your viewpoint) – nor his pseudo-philosophical ramblings in the press conference that followed. While Berbatov is yet to ‘distinguish’ himself in similar fashion, and lacks the fiery temperament of Cantona, it somehow wouldn’t be surprising if he shoved himself in the limelight with a similarly self-destructive action.

For their footballing aura as much as their footballing ability, Eric Cantona and Dimitar Berbatov, two of the most gifted footballers to grace our shores, we salute you.

Let us leave you with this remarkable montage of Cantona’s finest moments in a Man Utd shirt – if Berbatov can come anywhere near matching this, he’ll have been a revelation.