Eric Cantona has pledged to house and feed a refugee family for “at least” two years.
The Manchester United legend explained to France Inter radio on Tuesday that his grandparents’ experience fleeing war has inspired his touching gesture.
“I’m organising that with authorities in Marseille,” Cantona told the station, explaining that he intends to provide the family with a small house, garden and food.
“If you house someone who does not have the right to work, then they need to eat too,” he said, as transcribed by the Guardian.
“My maternal grandparents were Spanish Republicans who fled Franco by crossing the Pyrenees on foot. That being our story, it certainly played a role.”