10 of the most outspoken footballers 

Manchester United v Sunderland - Premier League
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is famously outspoken

#3: Paul Scholes

Manchester United v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Semi Final
Former Man United star Paul Scholes has become outspoken since his retirement

During his career with Manchester United, Paul Scholes was renowned for being the type of player to allow his skills on the pitch to do the talking. Famed for scoring some spectacular goals, Scholes once claimed that all he ever wanted to do was play football, and he preferred criticism to compliments as it drove him to prove people wrong.

Since moving into the world of punditry though, Scholes has suddenly developed a new side to him – and has become one of the most outspoken men in the football world – largely aiming his vitriol at his old side Man United, who have fallen on harder times since his retirement.

The summer of 2014 saw him concerned about the future of United, who he felt needed five or six new players to make it back to the top of the Premier League. By 2015/16 though he’d had enough and really became outspoken, criticising United boss Louis van Gaal at every opportunity.

Scholes slated United’s lack of creativity, questioned whether van Gaal had a problem with forward players as his football was boring, and labelled them average. He also criticised some of the younger players like Anthony Martial on whether he cared at all.

More recently Scholes has been criticising United under Jose Mourinho, claiming his side had no desire and no energy in their Champions League loss to Sevilla.

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