Bizarre best tribute from Cantona

Eric Cantona has claimed that George Best would now being “turning the head of God” in a bizarre tribute to the Manchester United legend.

The Frenchman, who earned cult status himself during his time at Old Trafford, made his extraordinary remarks on the club’s official website, www.manutd.com.

He said: “After his first training session in heaven, George Best, from his favourite right wing, turned the head of God who was filling in at left-back.

“I would love him to save me a place in his team, George Best that is, not God.”

Best’s funeral will be held in Belfast on Saturday and both United manager Alex Ferguson and the club’s chief executive David Gill are expected to attend.

United, however, will not request a postponement of their home league game on Saturday against Portsmouth. The match has a 5.15pm kick-off.

Northern Ireland sports minister David Hanson has not ruled out the possibility of a proposed new stadium in Belfast being named after Best, who died on Friday, aged 59.

However Hanson made it clear that it would take time for a decision to be reached on the matter.

“It is clear that George’s life has meant a lot to a lot of people in Northern Ireland, ” he said. “The people of Northern Ireland and people throughout the United Kingdom want to celebrate George’s life in a positive way.

“He has been one of the greatest footballers that ever lived. He has brought much glory, pleasure and joy to people throughout the world.”

Plans are in the pipeline for a 42,500 stadium to be built on the site of the former Maze prison and become the base for the province’s football, rugby and gaelic football teams.

Hanson would like the project to be complete in time for the 2012 London Olympics.

He added on BBC Radio Ulster: “I am very confident we will be able to find an appropriate way to celebrate that life (George Best’s) in due course.”

Meanwhile Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has agreed to a request from the Best family to make Stormont available for the funeral on Saturday.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the route from his father Dickie’s home on the Cregagh estate in the east of the city.

After a ceremony at Parliament Buildings, Best’s body will be taken for burial beside his mother, Ann, at Roselawn Cemetery.

Officials from the Northern Ireland Office were today holding talks with family representatives and Castlereagh Borough Council to finalise arrangements.