Paul Scholes had some harsh words for one former teammate when discussing Manchester United’s worst ever signings.
The Red Devils legend saw plenty of world-class players come through the doors at Old Trafford during his 20-year career at the club, but it was not without a few underwhelming new arrivals.
Appearing on The Overlap’s Fan Debate, a supporter argued that £85million recruit Antony should go down as United’s worst signing of all time, having scored just 11 goals and delivered five assists since arriving in Manchester in 2022.
Despite this, Scholes initially suggested Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who he played alongside between 2001 and 2003: “You know what, I was going to go a bit further back than that.
“Veron was a great player, talented player, don’t really know why it just didn’t work out for him. But what a footballer.”
But he eventually settled on another former teammate, goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who joined United for the second time in his career from Aston Villa in 1999, a decade after previously encountering work visa issues when he first came to the club from Australia.
Scholes continued: “I go back to the goalkeepers, when we had to replace Peter Schmeichel, which was always going to be difficult.’
“Fabian Barthez was a great goalkeeper.
“I was thinking more like [Massimo] Taibi, Mark Bosnich… I thought he was a good keeper at Villa, Mark.”
Despite Bosnich arriving with a reputation as one of the league’s top keepers, Scholes admitted to being shocked by his condition.
The 11-time Premier League champion laid into the Australian, saying: “He came to us and was so unprofessional. Honestly, it was ridiculous.
“In shooting practice, you normally have like 15-20 minutes, after three shots he was knackered.
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“And I never realised, he couldn’t kick a football! Honestly, I’d never seen anything like it.”
Detailing Bosnich’s shortcomings, Scholes explained: “We played Everton away the first game of the season and none of us picked up on it – he couldn’t reach the halfway line.
“And there was no wind, it was a perfect day.
“But then you look at his feet… size 14s. Honestly, he was just kicking the floor, big flippers on. Disappointment.”
It clearly wasn’t only Scholes who did not approve of the former Australia international, who would go on to make just 23 league appearances over two seasons at the club before departing for Chelsea in 2001.
Discussing other candidates for United’s worst ever addition Antony, Scholes admitted: “Yeah, when you talk about the money, value for money as well, it’s not been good has it?
“Think of [Alexis] Sanchez as well. Big disappointment from Arsenal.”
Ultimately however, Scholes refused to be swayed from putting Bosnich at the top of his list, confirming: “My worst one? I’m going to go for Bosnich.”
In the same episode, the United academy graduate also discussed the club’s best ever signing, with two standout names leading the way.
Scholes reserved special praise for French maverick Eric Cantona, who lifted four league titles at Old Trafford after arriving for a £1m transfer fee in 1992.
On whether Cantona is the greatest Premier League signing of all time, he said: “Yeah, I think it has to be. I think they were missing that final piece of the jigsaw and that was him.
“And for one million quid. I know in those days, it was probably still a bit of money.
“It wasn’t loads and loads of money, but for what he did for the club, for the money, for the worth, for the value, just the influence of him on the football club was incredible.”
Despite this, Scholes then named the club’s all-time record goalscorer as his ultimate winner in this category, finishing: “I was going to say Wayne Rooney is the best.
“Wayne Rooney for £25million was ridiculous. Five league titles, he’s the leading goalscorer, 253 goals.”
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