Former Liverpool boss Graeme Souness has explained turning down Manchester United legend Eric Cantona.

Souness says he turned down the opportunity to sign Cantona in 1991 whilst Liverpool manager, two months before the Frenchman joined Leeds United.

"My story about Eric Cantona...," Souness began, speaking on The Football Show on Sky Sports.

"I was manager of Liverpool, we'd lost 2-0 away to Auxerre, came back and beat them 3-0. After the game, there was a guy outside who said he was a good pal of mine, and it was Michel Platini.

"Not a close pal of mine, only time I came into contact with him was when I was in Italy, he was at Juventus and I was at Sampdoria.

"Anyway, he came in and said 'look I've got a player for you, he's a real problem boy in France but he's really talented, he'd be perfect for your club'.

"I said 'listen Michel, I'm fighting fighting fires at the moment, trying to get some people out the door, they're resisting, fighting a dressing room here. The last thing I need is another controversial figure in there', and that was Eric [Cantona].

"Then Eric went on trial at Sheffield Wednesday and ended up signing for Leeds and the rest is history."