To start, an excerpt of a chant taken straight from the Old Trafford terraces (for context, it needs to be sung to the tune of 1968 song Lily the Pink – the verse, specifically – by The Scaffold): “Eric is so cool, remarkably cultured, he likes good music and poetry too. Performing the fine arts on the field for the boys they call Man U.”

This hasn’t been included as a mere bagatelle: it’s the ‘fine arts’ bit that we’re most interested in. For yes, while the Eric in question – Monsieur Cantona, no less – painted the prettiest of pictures on the pitch, his passions also extend to creative endeavours off it. And that brings us to this here exhibition at the National Football Museum.

But an action replay first. In 1994, artist Michael Browne first caught the eye when he unveiled his replica of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling at a restaurant in his home city of Manchester. But it was another work inspired by the Renaissance, The Art of the Game, that really set tongues wagging, thanks to its depiction of the Frenchman as Jesus Christ.