Few former footballers possess a greater understanding of what constitutes a top-tier midfielder than Paul Scholes.
The one-time Manchester United and England icon dedicated nearly two decades to anchoring the Red Devils’ midfield, amassing over 700 appearances and securing 11 Premier League crowns.
This illustrious career earned Scholes the No.4 position in FourFourTwo’s compilation of the Premier League’s all-time finest midfielders, while Barcelona luminary Xavi hailed him as ‘the quintessential central midfielder I’ve ever witnessed’.
Paul Scholes: ‘I’d probably single him out as the Premier League’s foremost midfielder’
Even though the caliber of Man United’s midfield personnel has diminished somewhat since Scholes’ peak years under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Premier League boasts a wealth of exceptional midfielders across various teams.
The Old Trafford icon specifically mentioned Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, and Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes on the latest edition of The Overlap Fan Debate, presented by Sky Bet; however, Scholes believes that another Magpies talent surpasses England and Arsenal linchpin Declan Rice.
Scholes commented: “I’m still not entirely convinced that Moises Caicedo is a complete midfield package. Undeniably, he executed a fantastic goal and delivered a stellar performance against Liverpool. It’s true that he faced some criticism for his displays the previous year, but during the Club World Cup, he was outstanding.
“Personally, I lean towards those midfielders who exude more control, showcase greater flair, and contribute goals with more regularity than Caicedo. Although his goal was exceptional, one wouldn’t necessarily expect him to replicate it for another year and a half. He excels in his specific role of disrupting opposition play – he’s truly exceptional at it.
“Alexis Mac Allister shone brightly last campaign – he orchestrated much of Liverpool’s gameplay, a dimension they seem to be lacking this season.
“Bruno Guimaraes is remarkable, and I also admire Sandro Tonali at Newcastle – Tonali, in particular, possesses immense energy and has been truly impressive. I might even favor Tonali as the Premier League’s premier midfielder over Declan Rice. In my view, Tonali edges out Rice.
“Don’t get me wrong, I hold Rice in high esteem; he possesses a well-rounded skillset, but there are instances where he dwells on the ball for an excessive number of touches. He seems to strive for a level of sophistication that isn’t always necessary. He boasts impressive physical attributes, excels as a box-to-box player, and demonstrates goal-scoring potential – however, he doesn’t capitalize on these aspects frequently enough.”
Italian midfielder Tonali, currently positioned at no.7 in FourFourTwo’s rankings of the world’s best defensive midfielders, made the move to Newcastle from AC Milan for a reported £55m during the summer of 2023. He played a pivotal role in helping the Magpies break their 70-year trophy drought by securing the Carabao Cup title last season.
Paul Scholes shared these insights on The Overlap Fan Debate, presented by Sky Bet.
