Eric Cantona is gathering signatures to run in this year's French presidential election, the newspaper Libération has reported. It said the former Manchester United striker, who needs 500 elected officials' backing by the end of February to run, has sent a letter to mayors describing himself as an "engaged citizen" and asking for their support.

The paper quoted Cantona's letter: "This engagement obliges me to speak, more earnestly than usual, but also with a keen sense of my responsibility, at a time when our country faces difficult choices which will be decisive for its future."