The rivalry between Manchester United and Leeds United has been present for decades. The two clubs, separated by less than 50 miles, are far from city rivals, but the hostile atmosphere has always been there and will, undoubtedly, continue to be that way for many years to come. The Reds have won 49 times against the Yorkshire side in their history, while Leeds have recorded 26 victories.
While the hatred is not a recent element, it was simply intensified with the transfer of Eric Cantona in 1992. The Frenchman - who had enjoyed success with Leeds since arriving from Nimes - was so furious about being dropped for a match that he refused to report for training, before ultimately faxing a transfer request to the club.
His time with the Whites was coming to an end, and despite registering just 34 appearances for the club, the thought of him leaving Elland Road was terrifying for Leeds supporters. Cantona's preference was to join United, Liverpool or Arsenal. He was highly sought-after, but it quickly became clear who was going to win the race for his signature.
At the time, his move, albeit controversial, was viewed as somewhat of an amicable piece of business. The French forward's move was viewed by many as a good piece of business for both sides - with United getting an exciting prospect, while Leeds got rid of a player that some suggested was proving to be more hassle than he was worth.
However, it was, understandably, met with hostility from Leeds fans. The attacker officially left Elland Road to join United for £1million in November 1992. Sir Alex Ferguson knew that the Reds needed a striker, with the club having previously made unsuccessful bids for David Hirst, Matt Le Tissier and Brian Deane.
After insisting that Dennis Irwin was not for sale - with the defender attracting interest from Leeds - Reds chairman Martin Edwards had been asked to find out if Cantona was available. Having consulted with the Whites' chairman Bill Fotherby, it took just a matter of days for the deal to be completed.
For Leeds supporters, losing the Frenchman was a massive blow - especially given that he had joined United. To make matters worse, the Reds even lied about the transfer fee that they paid to Leeds for Cantona.
Edwards - who was United's chairman at the time - revealed that the transfer fee was lower than the reported £1.6m, and that the figure was there to purely please the fans.
In a book about his time at Old Trafford, Edwards revealed: "I had never had a conversation about Cantona with Alex but had read that Howard Wilkinson and him didn't get on. So I blurted it out. I actually rang Alex at the training ground and told him.
"He said: 'Too right I would have Cantona.' So the next day I called Bill and said we would take Cantona off their hands. As though we were doing them a favour!
"We got him for £1m but Bill asked that we say it was £1.6m to appease the Leeds fans."
While £600,000 would not go a long way in today's transfer market, it was still a substantial amount of money in the 1990s. Ironically, it was the exact amount that United had paid for Irwin two years prior to Cantona's arrival. The Irishman, who was adored by supporters, is still regarded as one of the Reds' greatest-ever full-backs.
Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson didn't see eye-to-eye with Cantona, but given that the player would go on to win four Premier League titles at United during a whirlwind five-year stint at Old Trafford, the decision to let him leave - especially for United - is a mistake that the Yorkshire club regret to this day.
Edwards, meanwhile, could not believe his luck, revealing that Irving Scholar - the former Tottenham chairman - spoke glowingly about the French striker whenever they saw each other.
"I was friends with Irving Scholar, the former Tottenham chairman, who lived in Monaco. Whenever we talked he would rave about this lad Cantona," Edwards wrote in his book.
"He would say: 'He’s made for you, he’s a player made for United. His style of play is suited to United. I can see him in that red and white strip.'"
Leeds' title success in 1992 was their last trophy, and Cantona, who had impressed during the triumphant campaign, played an important role in the season. Ferguson knew that he could prove to be an important player for United - and even consulted Michel Platini about the frontman.
"You should sign him, his character is underestimated - he just needs a bit of understanding," said Platini.
The Scotsman could scarcely believe how straightforward the negotiation proved, saying: "I've never seen a deal done as quickly as Eric Cantona's. He came with Jean-Jacques Bertrand from the PFA in France. So we had a cup of tea, and Jean-Jacques went to the table with the chairman.
"The chairman got his calculator out and said, 'We’ll do that.' Eric and I were just having a cup of tea. Eric doesn't speak much English, and I was practising my French.
"And the chairman said, 'Right, can we shake on that?' Jean-Jacques said, 'Yes!' And Jean-Jacques never even asked Eric if he was happy with it. Eric always trusts him to do the deal. But that must have all been done in half an hour."
Ferguson didn't sign Cantona to annoy the Leeds fans, it probably just came as a bonus. The legendary United manager has previously spoken about the rivalry between the two teams - even suggesting that it reaches higher levels than the contest between the Reds and Liverpool.
"Historically, it has been there for a long time," Ferguson once said about the rivalry between Manchester United and Leeds. "I have always said Liverpool-Manchester United games are fierce, but it never reaches the levels of Leeds United. Never.”
Cantona's career at Old Trafford would prove to be full of ups and downs. He undoubtedly played an important role in United dominating English football in the 1990s, was given the nickname of 'King Eric' and received countless individual accolades during his time at Old Trafford. He registered 81 goals and 62 assists in 182 appearances - winning a total of 11 trophies.
However, the Frenchman, known for turning up his collar, was also a controversial and captivating figure. His disciplinary record is well-documented, as is his eight-month suspension from football for that assault on an abusive spectator in 1995.
When the 'King' unexpectedly announced his retirement from the game at the age of 30 in 1997, there was a feeling, amongst almost everyone involved with United, that he had chosen to step away too soon. It was a decision that surprised many, but in typical fashion, Cantona did it his way - and ended it on his terms.
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King Eric Cantona 👑