Cantona works magic on Dublin fans

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona played a very different type of game on the streets of Dublin today.

The 38-year-old juggled a football in the Pearse Street flats while filming an advert for the new Euromillions lottery.

The game, which is already running in Britain, France and Spain, will be launched by the National Lottery in October. It will offer jackpots of up to €50m in weekly draws each Friday.

Cantona, who was voted Manchester United’s player of the century, strolled through the flats for the film crew as locals watched in awe.

“I never knew he’d be here,” said resident Declan Behan, who managed to get an autograph for his Manchester United-supporting daughter.

The film crew captured Cantona among the flocks of pigeons which the 70-year-old Pearse Street flats are famed for.

Five local children, who had been given the day off school, played soccer as Cantona walked along. He took a pass, juggled the ball with no difficulty and volleyed it high into the air.

The delighted film crew told him it was very good.

“Yeah?” asked Cantona.

He did several takes without displaying any signs of the fiery temper which earned him bans from the French and English football associations.

Shooting was temporarily halted when a bus from the local Andrew’s Resource Centre drove into the flats to pick up an elderly man.

“I love you, Eric,” shouted the bus driver.

When shooting finished, Cantona retired to a nearby people carrier. It was instantly besieged by locals bearing Manchester United jerseys and scraps of papers.

Local Matthew Powell, who sported a Manchester United tattoo on his right shoulder, came away with Cantona’s distinctive signature on his jersey.

“I had a feeling he would sign it. This one’s going up on the wall.”

He said he would never forget Cantona’s late winning goal against Liverpool in the 1996 FA cup final.

A nearby office worker, who did not wish to be named, also got Cantona’s autograph.

“I’ve been out of work for an hour and a half now. I don’t think they they know I’m gone.”

The Pearse Street flats featured in last year’s hit Irish film, Intermission.

Cantona also did filming for the Euromillions advert along the boardwalks along River Liffey at Bachelor’s Walk and outside the Mellon’s convenience store in Ringsend.

The Euromillions will be officially launched by the National Lottery in Dublin next week.